Jose Mourinho was facing a near-mutiny in his final days as Manchester United manager.
Mourinho came under increasing pressure before he was ultimately sacked by United less than 48 hours after a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
A week after the dismissal, new details are beginning to emerge about the circumstances surrounding Mourinho’s sacking.
According to a report in the Sunday Times, a key player in the United squad may have played a significant role in getting the 55-year-old sacked.
The report does not name the player, who apparently lost patience with the direction United were going after the loss to Liverpool and phoned Ed Woodward, the club’s executive vice-chairman, to say that Mourinho had to go.
The mystery player was reportedly used regularly by Mourinho and the phonecall is said to have led to several discussions between Woodward and the Glazer family, which culminated in Mourinho being called in to meet Woodward at Carrington last Tuesday.
The Portuguese reportedly believed he was being called in to talk about potential January transfers before he was relieved of his duties.
Paul Pogba, who had a long-running feud with Mourinho, is said to have celebrated the sacking and coach Michael Carrick reportedly had to intervene although that version of events has been rejected by Ashley Young.
“No celebration at all. Absolute lies,” Young told reporters after Saturday’s 5-1 victory over Cardiff.
“Obviously it was disappointing for the manager to get sacked. In his two-and-a-half years he won trophies.
“We have to take some responsibility for that as we are on the pitch. Like I said we have to move on from that.”
Former United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has since been appointed caretaker manager until the end of the season, when a permanent successor to Mourinho will be named.
