Matic has struggled for form this season but has remained an automatic choice for Mourinho

José Mourinho’s reluctance to drop Nemanja Matic has caused some consternation within certain elements of the Manchester United dressing room.

Matic’s slack marking on Ilkay Gündogan allowed the Germany midfielder to score the final goal in United’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester City yesterday.

It was not the first mistake the Serbian has made during his time at Old Trafford, but the midfielder has been a near ever-present in the team since he joined from Chelsea 16 months ago.

Matic started his maiden season at the club well, but his form dipped after the turn of the new year. Mourinho still kept Matic in his team and he ended up starting 35 of the United’s 38 league matches. This term the 30-year-old has started every game