Klopp, left, has benefited from a well-planned, deep squad, in contrast to what Solskjaer has had to deal with at United

It is August 2018, and one of the two phones that Ed Woodward uses is buzzing. On the line is José Mourinho, then manager of Manchester United.

As was the case for much of his final year at Old Trafford, Mourinho is not in a good mood. He has read an article that says United are to appoint a technical director. “Is it true?” Mourinho asks. “No,” says United’s executive vice-chairman.

Woodward was not being disingenuous. Mourinho had made it clear that he did not want to work under a technical director, or director of football. Woodward did not want to undermine him, so he kept United’s structure as it was, even though the prospect intrigued him.

When Mourinho was sacked four months later, the