NO VACAN-ZI
REDS DISMISS LINKS WITH EX-REAL COACH AS BOOKIES MAKE JOSE FAVOURITE FOR SACK
UNITED have no intention of replacing manager Jose Mourinho with former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.
Mourinho presided over a shambolic 3-2 defeat at Brighton on Sunday and several bookmakers have installed him as favourite to become the first Premier League managerial sacking of the campaign.
Zidane, who guided Real to three successive Champions League triumphs, left the Bernabeu in the summer and has been linked with United amid supposed uncertainty over Mourinho’s role.
However, a United source said: “Why would we discuss Zidane when there is no job available?” The Reds’ executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward visited the visitors’ dressing room for around five minutes after the Brighton loss as Mourinho attended his media commitments, and tension has mounted between the Old Trafford board and manager after the club failed to recruit two of Mourinho’s priority targets in the summer. Mourinho signed a one-year contract extension until 2020 in January and United retain the option of an additional year to tie him to the club until 2021, but they vetoed Mourinho’s recommendation they sign 29-year-olds Toby Alderweireld, of Tottenham, and Chelsea winger Willian in the summer.
Meanwhile, former United star Paul Ince believes the club is a ‘total mess’ and becoming a ‘laughing stock’.
“Other clubs and fans are having a field day at the minute, seeing what is happening at Man United,” Ince said.
“They’re becoming a laughing stock and falling behind.
“They finished second last season, and will probably make the top four this year, but is that what they should be striving for? No.
“Realistically, their goal should be to win the Premier League. But they just cannot compete with Manchester City or Liverpool at the minute.”