Within Old Trafford, they’d already noticed a wild swing in Jose Mourinho’s demeanour, and his outlook. There was no gallows humour about denying Manchester City the party they wanted. There was no joking about their confirmation as the best team coming in the worst way. Mourinho has bigger concerns, and it could lead to big problems for some of United’s players.

The talk is that the Portuguese has had it with many of them, and very few are safe in the summer. Mourinho would be willing to consider the sale of pretty much any players bar David De Gea, Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard, Ashley Young and Juan Mata. They are currently the only ones who have his full trust.

United sources are keen to point out that such swings have been a trend of Mourinho’s time so far, and that his moods have been greatly influenced by the most recent big results. That has led to transfer plans drastically changing from month to month - in a way that just wouldn’t happen at Manchester City now due to their approach - and it is possible that victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup semi-final at the weekend could cause another reversion.

It’s just that this week’s swing stood out all the more because it was in-keeping with more intense extremes.

United's performance against West Brom was worlds away from the display against City (Getty)

United went from the joyously rousing performance against City to the dismally flat display against West Brom. They went from beating the top team in the league to losing to the bottom team. They went from heroically denying Pep Guardiola’s side the title to so meekly handing it to them.

And, perhaps most pointedly, they went from looking so exciting against City to so exceedingly dull and lifeless against West Brom.

The deeper question is thereby not who Mourinho will buy or sell, but how they can so readily go through such extremes. How could they so quickly lose any verve from the City match, any spirit of optimism.

It is impossible not to think that much of the searing second half of that 3-2 win was circumstantial, as has been the case with pretty much all of United’s statement performances. While it was Mourinho’s pride stung before the Chelsea and Liverpool wins, it was the players’ pride stung at half-time of the City game. They were undeniably driven by that, and released by the nature of the game and the requirement to come back.

This is by no means to say that Mourinho had little effect, since the players did directly respond to his half-time words, and that did show that he has a hold over the team. There is currently no issue with his “psychological” or “emotional” management of the side, something that had been a fear.

There still may be a big issue with his management of the side’s attacking, though, something that has now gone beyond a fear before he got the job to a fully-fledged problem.

United were punished for their profligacy once again (Manchester United)

So many arguments have been made about this topic, and a lot of the same points about how Mourinho works have been repeated, so it is perhaps worth going into how the team actually works; just why it is that this happens.

Those who have worked with the Portuguese and know him well say he still is a “defensive genius”. The organisation there remains supreme.

The organisation beyond that area is not supreme, though, and this abstract talk about the lack of modern co-ordination has a concrete effect. It is also deeply linked to that defensive outlook.

Fundamentally, the requirements of a Mourinho backline mean that full-backs aren’t really allowed to attack in many matches, in a way that has become standard at the top level. This wouldn’t be a problem if the Portuguese played with proper wide men, but United don’t really do that, either.

Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Show all 23 1 /23 Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Manchester City 2 Manchester United 3 Who impressed as Jose Mourinho's side produced a stunning comeback victory to postpone City's title celebrations? Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Ederson – 6 out of 10 Helpless for all three of United’s goals. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Danilo – 6 out of 10 The Brazilian is clearly a significant downgrade on Kyle Walker, who was rested with Tuesday’s game against Liverpool in mind. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Vincent Kompany – 6 out of 10 Scored City’s opener but lost Chris Smalling for United’s winning goal. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Nicolas Otamendi – 5 out of 10 Involved in a flare-up with Paul Pogba after the break but it was the United man who had the last laugh. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Fabian Delph – 6 out of 10 No notable contribution to the match in either an attacking or a defensive sense. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Fernandinho – 5 out of 10 Should’ve seen red for a scything challenge on Jesse Lingard that sparked a mass melee after a City penalty appeal was turned down. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Ilkay Gundogan – 7 out of 10 Scored a sublime second for City as he slotted home after a neat one-two with Raheem Sterling. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Raheem Sterling – 6 out of 10 Has more than 20 goals for the season but he showed that he is not the most natural of finishers with a couple of poor first-half efforts. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings David Silva – 7 out of 10 Put two chances on a plate for Raheem Sterling with City 2-0 up but the England forward spurned them both. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Leroy Sane – 6 out of 10 Usually so threatening but the talented German was quiet – even in the first half when City were so dominant. He did assist Kompany’s opening goal, mind you. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Bernardo Silva – 6 out of 10 A lovely little operator but he was the first to be sacrificed after United took the lead. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings David de Gea – 8 out of 10 Gave the ball away in the build-up to City’s second but redeemed himself with a wonder save from Sergio Aguero late on to preserve United’s lead. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Antonio Valencia – 6 out of 10 The one member of United’s back four who didn’t have a dreadful first half. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Chris Smalling – 7 out of 10 It was a case of déjà vu for the defender as he lost Vincent Kompany for the game’s opening goal – just as he did in the same fixture in 2012... but United’s fans will let that slide after he came up with a memorable winner. Reuters Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Eric Bailly – 5 out of 10 Widely regarded as United’s best defender but he can be erratic. He was all over the place as City ran riot in the opening period. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Ashley Young – 6 out of 10 Struggled to contain Raheem Sterling in a poor first-half display but he, like United on the whole, improved dramatically after the break. Lucky to not concede a penalty for a rash challenge on Sergio Aguero, though. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Nemanja Matic – 7 out of 10 Looked like he was running through treacle in the first half but played with a lot of energy in the second period. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Ander Herrera – 8 out of 10 Handed his first Premier League start of the calendar year and was United’s best outfield player in a shambolic opening period. Maintained a good level after the break and produced a lovely chested assist for Pogba’s first goal. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Jesse Lingard – 7 out of 10 Wasn’t as eye-catching as Pogba or Sanchez but this was another good performance by United’s most improved player of the season. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Paul Pogba – 9 out of 10 Rocked up sporting another controversial hairstyle and delivered an atrocious first-half performance... but he more than made up for it after the break with a talismanic display and two goals. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Alexis Sanchez – 8 out of 10 Like Pogba, the Chilean was poor in the first half but improved vastly after the break and made a key contribution to United’s first and second goals. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Romelu Lukaku – 7 out of 10 The service to him was non-existent in the first half and he made his frustration clear with a cynical foul on countryman Vincent Kompany that earned him a booking. Led the line well after the break. Getty

The effect of this can be seen in a hugely frustrating pattern of play that is itself seen far too often when United play. It is when Antonio Valencia has the ball in a promising position in the opposition half.

The nature of the modern game means that happens quite a lot, but so does the following. Because of the way that United are set up, and because of that key lack of drilled attacking co-ordination, there is very little movement in front of Valencia. There certainly isn’t the “red arrows” co-ordination that Arsene Wenger’s best Arsenal sides used to such effect, unless it’s one of those days when United are properly revved up and it all seems to come off instinctively.

When that isn’t the case, and that now feels like it’s most games, Valencia is forced to go outside. He will then try drill a cross that is blocked, and the move will usually break down.

That isn’t such a problem if you have proper creators in the middle, who can create something out of nothing, and United do have that. The issue is that Mourinho doesn’t have the patience to indulge them. With players like that, there has to be a certain risk in the sense of allowing them to keep trying things, but it doesn’t seem like it’s in the Portuguese’s nature to allow that.

Mourinho's United have fluctuated wildly (Getty Images)

Either they do it relentlessly, or they’re hooked, and abruptly dropped.

At United alone, this has happened with Juan Mata, this has happened with Anthony Martial. this has happened with Henrikh Mkhitaryan… and it’s now happening with Paul Pogba.

The Pogba situation is all the more interesting, and all the more fraught, because of what it represents. Some who have worked with Mourinho say he primarily sees central midfielders as strong players to set up a beachhead, mainly there for tackles and aerial dominance. “He would play three Nemanja Matics if he could,” one source says.

There is however a feeling that Pogba was signed because Mourinho was actually specifically conscious of this, and wanted to break out of it. He wanted to evolve his midfield idea… but then can’t truly let himself go and reverts to type.

This is one reason why the Pogba situation has grown. These are many reasons why United keep swinging to such extremes.

It is the chaos of certain games against Mourinho’s sense of control.

Others around the Portuguese and the club argue that things would be different if he had two or three key players he requires. A stronger defence would allow them to push up higher and with more confidence, a midfield passer like a peak Michael Carrick - or a current Toni Kroos - would allow more fluidity, and a winger like Ivan Perisic would have allowed that play out wide that they require and that becomes so conspicuous by its absence.

Who could leave Manchester United this summer? Show all 9 1 /9 Who could leave Manchester United this summer? Who could leave Manchester United this summer? Who could leave Manchester United this summer? Jose Mourinho will run the rule over his squad over the next weeks and months, with several players expected to make way.



Who could leave Old Trafford this summer? Getty Who could leave Manchester United this summer? Luke Shaw Survival rating: 2/10 Getty Who could leave Manchester United this summer? Daley Blind Survival rating: 2/10 Getty Who could leave Manchester United this summer? Matteo Darmian Survival rating: 2/10 Getty Who could leave Manchester United this summer? Anthony Martial Survival rating: 4/10 Getty Who could leave Manchester United this summer? Marouane Fellaini Survival rating: 5/10 Getty Who could leave Manchester United this summer? Chris Smalling Survival rating: 6/10 Getty Who could leave Manchester United this summer? Ander Herrera Survival rating: 8/10 Getty Who could leave Manchester United this summer? Paul Pogba Survival rating: 8/10 Getty

Mourinho right now wants two central midfielders and another attacker, but that could drastically change again depending on how the season ends.

That itself will be dependent on the FA Cup semi-final, and who knows what that will bring. It would be in-keeping with the nature of the season to see another swing.