Jose Mourinho is battling growing disillusionment in the Manchester United dressing room about his methods at a time when the club’s hierarchy are making moves to help smooth the disconnect between the manager and board with the appointment of a technical director.

The United manager’s relationship with the likes of Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba, both of whom would leave Old Trafford if there was an exit route, has been severely strained for some time but there are others in the dressing room who have since tired of Mourinho’s approach on and off the field.

Mourinho still has players in the squad who are willing to pull for him but Pogba’s criticism of the team’s “attitude” in the wake of Sunday’s wretched 3-2 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion is understood to hint at a deeper malaise that has taken hold amid fears the problem could worsen unless there is a drastic improvement in mood and morale.

Pogba - who has been made captain in what some have viewed as an attempt by Mourinho to get the player back on side as he eyes a move to Spain - has already admitted he cannot express his true feelings for fear of being fined.