Manchester United are going through a difficult period right now.The Red Devils have lost two of their opening three Premier League matches and there are concerns surrounding Jose Mourinho’s job.The Daily Mail reported this week that Man United players and staff believe Mourinho could be sacked if he loses to Burnley on Sunday.The Portuguese has been given three summers to create his ideal squad but the most previous one was easily his most frustrating.Mourinho was desperate to sign a new centre-back, and the club were linked with a host of players who would have been an upgrade on their current options.Toby Alderweireld, Harry Maguire, Yerry Mina and Jerome Boateng were among the names mentioned.But the club were unable to bring any of them in and were forced to play Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof together in the opening day win over Leicester City.

Herrera at centre-back

Bailly and Lindelof started again against Brighton but they struggled badly and Mourinho decided to switch things up for Monday’s meeting at home to Tottenham.

Phil Jones and Chris Smalling were brought in and they were joined in a back three by Ander Herrera.

The makeshift trio struggled as Spurs ran riot in the second half, Mauricio Pochettino’s side cruising to a 3-0 win at Old Trafford.

Mourinho didn’t explain his decision to play Herrera at right centre-back, simply insisting after the defeat that he doesn’t know his best defence.

But according to the Manchester Evening News, Man United players think they know why it was done.

They claim that the players believe Mourinho’s use of Herrera as a defender was a direct message to Ed Woodward for failing to land a centre-back in the transfer window.

It was Woodward, United's executive vice-chairman, who vetoed Mourinho’s recommendation to sign Alderweireld.

The club were also hesitant to pay the £75 million fee that Leicester wanted for Maguire.

It’s left them resorting to Herrera at centre-back. What a mess.