Manchester United have sacked manager Jose Mourinho after Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool left them 19 points from the top of the Premier League.
The club made the decision to end the 55-year-old’s tenure amid growing discontent over his playing style and the atmosphere behind the scenes at Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick is due to take training on Tuesday, but United plan to name a caretaker manager from outside the club by the end of the week to see out the season, with a permanent appointment to follow in the summer.
Within an hour of United announcing Mourinho’s departure from the club, Pogba posted a cryptic message on Instagram apparently alluding to the news before swiftly deleting it.
Mourinho has complained about the club’s failure to sign a defender in the summer, but United feel they had given the Portuguese more than adequate backing in the transfer market.
Manchester United has announced that Jose Mourinho has left the Club.
We would like to thank him for his work during his time at Manchester United and wish him success in the future. #MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 18, 2018
In all they brought in 11 players – all of which were understood to be Mourinho’s choices – at a cost of more than £400million during his tenure.
In return, United felt there was no progress either in terms of results, style of play, or the development of young players.
Mourinho joined United in May 2016 and guided them to success in the Community Shield, League Cup and Europa League in his first season.
The final straw came at Anfield on Sunday, when two late goals from Xherdan Shaqiri, both deflected, condemned United to a 3-1 defeat.
That left Mourinho with only seven wins and five draws from 17 league games this season, their worst return at this stage of a campaign during the Premier League era.
In January this year United handed Mourinho a contract extension until 2020, but have now parted with the former Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss.
“The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and wish him success in the future.
“A new caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the current season, while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager.”
