Former Manchester United midfielder Lee Sharpe has predicted that manager Jose Mourinho will be sacked before the festive period, as he lamented the dour attitude that the Portuguese has brought to the club.

Sharpe, who made more than 200 appearances for United from 1988 to 1996, told Sky Sports: “I am expecting the manager to get sacked before Christmas. If he is going to continue with this dourness and this moaning, then people will turn around and say this attitude is not getting us to the top so we need to change it.”

Sharpe believes that Mourinho is unmindful of the criticism he is receiving, and that he has fostered a negative attitude which is embodied by his team.

“As much as the press and fans have been on Jose Mourinho’s case about the negativity over the past few seasons and him moaning about players he has and has not got, he just seems to ignore everybody and carry on as usual. He looks fed up and it is reflecting in his team’s performances. He is playing negative stuff.”

United suffered a 3-2 defeat away at Brighton on Sunday, a performance that would no doubt have reinforced Sharpe’s belief that Mourinho’s tactics are currently conducive to sub-par performances.

Jose Mourinho's summer of misery Show all 6 1 /6 Jose Mourinho's summer of misery Jose Mourinho's summer of misery Jose Mourinho's summer of misery A difficult few weeks for Manchester United took a turn for the worse on Sunday when they were beaten 3-2 at Brighton in the Premier League.



Manager Jose Mourinho has cut a frustrated figure as his team have laboured through pre-season and the opening weeks of the new campaign.



Here, we a look at a summer of discontent at Old Trafford. AFP/Getty Images Jose Mourinho's summer of misery Window Woes Mourinho had hoped to strengthen his squad significantly during the summer transfer window, but it ended without the arrival of the commanding defender he had wanted. Despite being linked with the likes of Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, Jerome Boateng, Diego Godin and Yerry Mina, United added only Fred, Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant to the mix. Speculation persists that relations between Mourinho and the club's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward are strained. AFP/Getty Images Jose Mourinho's summer of misery World Cup wait The manager was less than impressed after having to start pre-season without some of his biggest names after France, England and Belgium enjoyed extended stays at the World Cup finals and severely depleted his resources. Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini, Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard, Phil Jones and Marcus Rashford were all missing, although most answered Mourinho's call to cut short their post-tournament breaks. Man Utd via Getty Images Jose Mourinho's summer of misery Pitch battle If things have been tetchy off the field, they have been little more relaxed on it. United stuttered through pre-season as they lost to Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, and were little more than functional in a 2-1 victory over Leicester in their Premier League opener. However, they turned in a dreadful display to go down 3-2 at Brighton on Sunday with the scoreline flattering them somewhat. Man Utd via Getty Images Jose Mourinho's summer of misery Martial War? Anthony Martial found himself in the firing line after leaving the club's US tour to attend the birth of his second child. Mourinho made little secret of his displeasure at the Frenchman's failure to return to the fold as quickly as he had expected, but 22-year-old Martial insisted his family would always come first. Getty Images Jose Mourinho's summer of misery The problem with Pogba Paul Pogba has been something of an enigma since his club record £89million switch from Juventus in August 2016. His form on the pitch has been patchy to say the least, and rumours of a fractious relationship with his manager have refused to go away. Pogba did little to stem the speculation when he replied, "There are things that I cannot say otherwise I will get fined" when asked if he was happy at Old Trafford, but Mourinho, who has made the Frenchman his captain, has repeatedly insisted there is no issue. Getty

“I don’t think he is getting the best from the players. This team has some unbelievable attacking players but I don’t think they are on the front foot enough, I don’t think they are playing at a quick enough tempo and I don’t think they move the ball enough. They give teams a chance to get back and get organised.

“It is a shame that he wants to play the way he wants to play. It didn’t work last year against a rampant Manchester City and if things aren’t working you have to learn from your mistakes and change something. He needs to change but he just seems to be too stubborn to alter his approach.”

Jose Mourinho's side lost 3-2 at Brighton (Getty Images)

The former Leeds winger has not only been left disillusioned by his on-field management, but also questioned the Portuguese’s conduct off the field by comparing him to United’s greatest.

“One of the things you respected about Sir Alex Ferguson is that he kept things in house. It was done in his office and the dressing room. Nothing ever went to the press in terms of issues he had with players. I think Mourinho could do with taking a leaf out of his book and using that. Nobody digs out their players in public. He is hanging them out to dry.”

Paul Pogba has been no stranger to open criticism from his manager and the more averse treatment he is receiving from the Portuguese may be preventing him from replicating the performances he puts on with his national team, according to Sharpe.

“It is horses for courses and you treat people accordingly. Paul Pogba is a special talent, a special individual and a special character. It might be different to how you treat other people but you have to do what you have to do to get the best from him.

“That’s what everybody wants to see, the Paul Pogba who rips everyone to shreds for France. It doesn’t happen enough at United. I don’t know why that is. Is it Mourinho? Does he put too many restrictions on him? Does he put him under too much pressure? I’m not sure but it needs to be sorted out for United to have any chance this season.