In this rush to diagnose a grumpy, tetchy José Mourinho with another dose of third-season syndrome, one thing is overlooked too readily. His demeanour has barely changed throughout his first two years as Manchester United manager. His past experiences with Chelsea and Real Madrid, of whirlwind romances that crashed into the rocks in the third season, do not seem to apply here. This marriage of convenience is still waiting to catch a spark.

There are pictures of him smiling with Ed Woodward, United’s executive vice-chairman, on the day he signed a new contract in January, when he said that they and the Glazer family were “creating the conditions for a brilliant and successful future” at Old Trafford, but the grimace was soon back again.

That