This is wretched to watch, surely there is no way back for Jose now

ON a plane home from a Champions League trip in September 2007, Sir Alex Ferguson sent staff to the back of the aircraft to ask the media if it was really true Chelsea had just sacked Jose Mourinho. For Ferguson, news of the demise of his most dangerous rival arrived like a gift.

Two days ago at Manchester City, meanwhile, home supporters digested news of Manchester United’s defeat at West Ham and sang: ‘Jose Mourinho, we want you to stay.’

So this is how life has changed for Mourinho. The great managerial totem of our time has reached a point where he is so muddled, vengeful and failing that his team’s Premier League rivals know that he and his side can no longer hurt them.

It has been heading this way for a while and a personal memory is that of a delayed train home from London last November. United had lost 1-0 at Chelsea and travelling supporters were quick to tell of their tiredness, not with results but with the deadeyed nature of their team’s Mourinho football.

These travellers were time- served and realistic. They were not the kneejerkers of social media. They knew exactly what it was they were watching and how badly it sat with the image they held of their football club.

So as soon as the results turned, it was never going to take long to get to where we are now. The supporters — the ones who matter — are tired of it. And now United’s executives — themselves tolerant of rather than enthusiastic about their manager last season — are tiring of it too.

Mourinho has played all his cards this season now. He was clever to court the support of the Stretford End after home defeat by Tottenham, diverting their anger away from his own failings and towards the media and executive vicechairman Ed Woodward.

It bought him some time. United beat Burnley as supporters flew an antiWoodward banner over Turf Moor. But now all of Mourinho’s chips are cashed.

Cunning PR won’t sustain you when your team stop playing and defeat at West Ham was set up by Mourinho’s stubborn and confused selection, and rubber-stamped by players who no longer wish or know how to play for him. It is wretched to observe. The lack of obvious replacements may extend Mourinho’s residence for longer than some would hope or expect, but in the long term it would be a huge surprise if there was any way back for him now.