Mourinho safe but United must do better

MANCHESTER UNITED have told manager Jose Mourinho they don’t want to sack him – but insist results must get better.

United have made a stuttering start to the season and currently lie a lowly eighth in the Premier League table.

Mourinho has come under-fire after a series of poor displays domestically and in Europe.

It’s led to claims the Portuguese has held crunch talks over the state of the team with chief executive Ed Woodward.

And journalist Duncan Castles has now revealed what took place in a meeting between the two earlier this month.

Speaking on the latest episode of The Transfer Window podcast, Castles said: “It was reported on Saturday (Oct 6) there was a meeting between Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes and Woodward on Friday (Oct 5).

“What came across was that Manchester United did not want to sack Mourinho at this stage.

“That the noise was coming from outside not inside, that they still believed in him, that they still felt he had been successful in his first and second seasons and were not looking to sack him.

“It’s been made clear to Mourinho that results have to change, but it wasn’t a dismissal point.”

United beat Newcastle in their final match before the international break.

The Manchester giants were 2-0 down and looking doomed to another defeat. But they mounted a stunning second-half comeback to win 3-2 at Old Trafford.

Castles also debunked the claim that it was Paul Pogba who demanded a tactical change from Mourinho which triggered the win against Rafa Benitez’s team.

Castles claims the Frenchman was merely following orders from his manager as United ensured they went into the international break full of confidence.

“We should put one reported myth to bed here, Castles said on the same podcast.

“It’s been reported Pogba was responsible for the tactical change (against Newcastle) and it was his idea that he play further back and that Fellaini (Marouane) come on to play behind the attackers.

“I put that to the people involved and was told it was absolute rubbish and big lies. Those tactical changes were instigated by him (Mourinho).

“There was lots of discussion whether the players had stopped playing for him.

“But when it came down to it, the best goal and key goal they scored, was by a combination of Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba.

“If you were to pick two players who were most likely to down tools and say ‘here’s our chance to get rid of the manager’ it would have been those two.”

United return to action after the international break with a tough trip to joint-leaders Chelsea on Saturday.

The Blues are unbeaten so far under new manager Maurizio Sarri, and are level on points with champions Manchester City and Liverpool. – Daily Star