Jose Mourinho faces a fight over the Christmas period to save his job at Manchester United, according to reports.
United’s 3-1 loss to Liverpool on Sunday was the Red Devils’ fifth of the season and the result means they have only won twice in eight matches in all competitions.
The matches they have won in that sequence were against Fulham – who are currently bottom of the Premier League – and a narrow 1-0 win over Young Boys to secure their Champions League qualification.
It is now Man United’s worst start to a season since 1990 and Mourinho‘s side now have a goal difference of zero in the league.
United have four very winnable fixtures over the festive period as they take on Cardiff, Huddersfield, Bournemouth and Newcastle, but a slip up in any of those fixtures could see pressure grow.
The Daily Mail claims that the players have privately discussed that it is ‘a matter of when, and not if, Mourinho is sacked.’
While the report continues by saying the Portuguese boss has almost ‘no support’ left in the changing room.
The newspaper understands that United would have to pay him £18million – the equivalent of a year’s salary – to sack him and ‘up to £22.5million’ if they are ‘still in the Champions League or in contention for a top-four place.’
Despite that, a report in the Guardian claimed yesterday that Mourinho’s job is safe in the immediate future.