Jose Mourinho is only two games into his third season as Manchester United manager yet rumours are spreading that he could soon lose his job.

Throughout his career the Portuguese has been burdened with 'third-season syndrome', leaving the likes of Porto, Real Madrid and Chelsea midway through the campaign.

And now it looks like history could repeat itself following United's poor start to the 2018/19 Premier League term.

Sunday's 3-2 defeat to minnows Brighton was an embarrassing result for the Red Devils and according to the Times, Mourinho barely spoke to his players afterwards.

United were dreadful at the Amex, with Paul Ince describing his former club as a "total mess" under Mourinho in the aftermath.

"Other clubs and fans are having a field day at the minute, seeing what is happening at Man United," Ince told Paddy Power News.

"They're becoming a laughing stock and falling behind. They finished second last season and will probably make the top four this year, but is that what they should be striving for? No.

LAUGHING STOCK

"Realistically their goal should be to win the Premier League, but they just cannot compete with Manchester City or Liverpool at the minute."

These are worrying times for United and now club legend Lee Sharpe has dropped a bombshell about the way Mourinho has been managing his side this season.

Sharpe, who is well connected at United, has been told by sources that Mourinho is merely picking his starting XI before games and giving the players barely any instructions.

In Sharpe's words, Mourinho has just been "letting them get on with it".

"Mourinho is on trial again," the ex-midfielder told talkSPORT, per the Mirror. "He's never looked happy since he's been at the club.

"There just seems to be no plan at Man United. Nobody seems to know where they should be going and what they should be doing.

"I've heard a little whisper to say the manager is not really giving them a lot of instruction before games. He's just picking the team and letting them get on with it.

"It seems to me that he hasn't got the players in that he wanted this summer, and he's gone into a bit of a sulk. He's just let the players crack on and do their own thing."

That explains a lot. United were all over the place against Brighton and it's no wonder if Mourinho isn't giving them clear instructions beforehand.

As talented as United's players are, clearly they need their manager to be more expansive when it comes to tactics.