Manchester United appear to have hit resistance from Jose Mourinho over their attempts to modernise the club and hire a director of football.

It comes as United were given an extremely difficult draw in the last-16 of the Champions League where they will face one of the favourites, Paris Saint-Germain.

Following the dismal 3-1 Premier League defeat away to Liverpool on Sunday United have lurched further into crisis and are already in serious danger of not finishing in the top four and qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

There is further dismay at United not just at the result but, crucially, the manner of it with Mourinho’s side once again failing to perform. Record signing Paul Pogba remained on the bench with Mourinho then praising a number of Liverpool players, signed since he took over at United, after the match.

He has continually hit out at United’s recruitment strategy.

United are 19 points behind the leaders Liverpool but, more significantly, trail fourth-place Chelsea by 11 points after just 17 matches – their poorest start to a campaign since 1990. Mourinho has said the best they can hope for is to try and finish fourth which would be regarded as a minimum requirement by the club even if there is also continued unease at the way the team is playing.