In the event that Jose Mourinho is sacked by Manchester United, his replacement will inherit a squad that hasn’t performed at a high level.

The blame doesn’t lie solely at the feet of the players; Mourinho’s tactics this season have been called into question on more than one occasion.

But fans were right to expect more from a team that includes Paul Pogba, Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku.

The Red Devils face Valencia on Tuesday evening in a clash that certainly doesn’t guarantee three points.

Valencia sit 14th in the La Liga table but Wolverhampton, Derby County and West Ham United have all enjoyed success against Man United recently.

It’s a fixture that Mourinho would expect to win. But nobody knows what Man United side are going to turn up.

The situation is completely different to the one at Man United eight years ago, when Valencia last visited Old Trafford.

Man United hosted Valencia in 2010

Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge and he oversaw a side that would go on to win the Premier League and reach the final of the Champions League.

Man United drew 1-1 against Valencia in December 2010, which was enough to secure top spot in the group.

And the team that Ferguson selected included the type of characters that Mourinho’s team is sorely lacking.

GK | Ben Amos

Edwin van der Sar was given a night off, with Amos handed the start.

RB | Rafael

CB | Rio Ferdinand

CB | Nemanja Vidic

Just look at that centre-back pairing.

From Ferdinand and Vidic to a rotating crew that includes Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, with Scott McTominay and Ander Herrera also playing in defence this season.

LB | Fabio

RM | Nani

CM | Michael Carrick

CM | Anderson

LM | Park Ji-sung

There were more talented midfielders around but one thing that could be relied upon with that midfield was a lot of running.

In contrast, Mourinho’s side managed just 59 sprints against West Ham on Saturday, the fewest total of any Premier League side at the weekend.

Liverpool’s players made 154 sprints in their 1-1 draw against Chelsea.

ST | Dimitar Berbatov

ST | Wayne Rooney

The full XI

Berbatov and Rooney scored 37 goals between them in all competitions in 2010-11, while Javier Hernandez, on the bench against Valencia, contributed with 20 goals.

If only Mourinho could get the best out of his players in the same way that Ferguson managed to.