Manchester United vice executive-chairman Woodward faces a big decision with Mourinho continuing to be tipped for the sack. What was already a chaotic time at Old Trafford has descended into a full-on crisis with the Red Devils’ form going from bad to worse.
Mourinho has been backed to leave his post as Manchester United manager amid their current plight. And many expect Zidane, who left Real Madrid back in May just days after steering them to the Champions League, to take over.
It’s been claimed that Zinedine Zidane has been lined up to replace Mourinho having left Real Madrid in the summer. But the Sun now report that Zidane is distancing himself from the role, meaning Mourinho could be saved.
The Manchester United board have been desperate to back Mourinho despite a poor start to the season, added to off-pitch issues. It’s claimed there is a lack of a viable alternative to Zidane with United unlikely to want to wait to appoint a successor.
Mourinho’s departure could be seen as a win for Pogba though former Premier League goalkeeper David Seaman doesn’t want to see that happen.
The Frenchman’s availability would work in United’s favour. However, the Independent claim the club are leaning towards Pochettino instead. The Argentine has worked wonders at Tottenham, establishing the north London side as one of the best teams in the Premier League.
The Independent say United have doubts about Zidane. Some board members supposedly feel that at Real, the circumstances were entirely different. Zidane replaced Rafa Benitez mid-season in January 2016 but had plenty of talent to work with.
At United, their two biggest stars are in dire form. Paul Pogba continues to publicly vent despite the club banning him from interviews. And Alexis Sanchez looks a shadow of the player who terrorised defences with Arsenal.
Pochettino, though, will be no easy appointment. He signed a new contract with Tottenham back in the summer and was given a sizeable pay rise.
United would likely better that salary. But whether they choose to put Mourinho out of his misery at this point in time remains to be seen.
“You know it’s not good when a player of that stature [Scholes] is having a right old go at the club… alright, he’s not having a go at the club, but he’s having a right go at Mourinho,” Seaman told talkSPORT.
“But no, it’s not good and it’s a little bit surprising.
“But when you speak to anybody about it they don’t really know what to say and everybody seems to be against Mourinho.
“At the moment, it’s very, very negative and the game was the same as well.
“When you get two stars like Rio and Scholesy having a right go on TV it’s not good.