Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho retains the support of the club’s board, with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward confident Mourinho can help his team recover from a miserable start to the season, sources have told ESPN FC.
Woodward was impressed that Mourinho took time to applaud the fans at the end of the dismal 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Monday and it was noted that the supporters responded by giving their own backing to the United manager.
United have lost two of their first three league games for the first time since 1992, and the defeat to Tottenham was Mourinho’s heaviest at home during his 18-year managerial career.
Sources have told ESPN FC that while Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial are unsettled at Old Trafford, the bulk of the first-team squad are behind Mourinho.
United face Burnley, who have one point from their first three games, at Turf Moor on Sunday before the two-week international break, then will face Watford at Vicarage Road on Sept. 15.
Sources insist Woodward and the Glazer family, the club’s owners, have given no consideration to replacing Mourinho with Zinedine Zidane despite his availability after his departure from Real Madrid in the summer.
Mourinho, 55, signed a new contract in January that could tie him to the club until 2021, and is frustrated that key transfer targets, including a centre-back and a right winger, did not arrive in the summer — although it is understood he has received assurances there will be money to spend in January if the right players become available.
Meanwhile, Marcos Rojo is set to return to training on Wednesday after missing the start of the season with an injury picked up playing for Argentina at the World Cup.
Rojo has not featured for United since the 1-0 win over Watford on May 13 and his return is a welcome boost for Mourinho, who saw Phil Jones limp off with a hamstring injury against Tottenham.