EPL: Jose Mourinho in fight to keep job at Manchester United

Manchester United head to Burnley this weekend with Jose Mourinho’s future as manager firmly in the spotlight.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho gestures from the touchline after the final whistle after his side’s defeat to Tottenham. Picture: AFP

Rocked by their worst start to a Premier League season for 26 years, Manchester United head to Burnley this weekend with Jose Mourinho’s future as manager firmly in the spotlight.

Across Manchester, City have no such worries as the champions host Newcastle in a 10th-anniversary celebration of the transformative takeover by their Abu Dhabi-based owners.

Beset by mounting problems on and off the pitch, Mourinho is in danger of another acrimonious third-season departure to go with his sour exits from Chelsea and Real Madrid.

He is battling to avoid the sack after a turbulent period marred by rumours of a rocky relationship with United star Paul Pogba and a transfer squabble with the club’s executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward.

United’s second-half collapse in their 3-0 defeat against Tottenham on Monday — the worst home loss of Mourinho’s career — was a huge blow, coming hot on the heels of their 3-2 setback at Brighton.

Mourinho insists he retains the support of United’s fans, who have reportedly hired a plane to fly over Burnley’s stadium bearing a message criticising Woodward and owners the Glazer family.

However, several reports claim Mourinho’s players believe he will be sacked if they lose at Burnley and it will be fascinating to see whether they put up a fight to keep a manager maligned for negative tactics and moody demeanour.

“It won’t be easy but it’s just the start of the season. I prefer to start badly and end well than start well and finish badly,” Pogba said.

After 22 years with Arsene Wenger calling the shots, Arsenal are still adjusting to the Unai Emery-era as they head to Cardiff tomorrow. Beaten by Manchester City and Chelsea in their opening two games, Arsenal finally got off the mark with a 3-1 victory against West Ham last weekend.

But Emery’s maiden success in the Premier League did not erase the feeling there are more teething problems to come. Arsenal could easily have lost to West Ham after their creaky defence was breached on numerous occasions.

Ten years after Sheik Mansour’s generation-defining takeover, Manchester City will aim to get back on track by staging an ­anniversary party against Newcastle tonight (AEST).

City’s status as England’s pre-eminent force has been cemented by an unstoppable combination of Mansour’s billions and boss Pep Guardiola’s managerial genius.

City looked as good as ever in their opening two wins of the season but a 1-1 draw at Wolverhampton last week exposed a few faultlines in Guardiola’s previously flawless game plan.

AFP