José Mourinho has been told that he must guide Chelsea into the knockout stages of the Champions League this week to safeguard his position as manager.

The ailing Barclays Premier League champions need a point from their final fixture against Porto on Wednesday to qualify for the round of 16. Defeat, though, could bring the end of Mourinho’s second spell as manager at Stamford Bridge.

Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United side need to win away to Wolfsburg to ensure their progress, but, by contrast, talks concerning the manager’s future at Old Trafford will centre on persuading the Dutchman to extend his contract beyond the end of next season. Despite mounting criticism over United’s dull style of football, the club’s hierarchy want Van Gaal to stay.