Jose Mourinho knows there is a problem in his Manchester United squad that spending alone cannot cure

       
So far – repeat, so far – Jose Mourinho has made no real difference to Manchester United in any of the important areas. 

Outcomes, team spirit, entertainment value: in all these categories the dominant team of the Premier League era are still baffling their supporters and burning hundreds of millions of pounds in transfer fees and salaries.

Remember the claim that Manchester would be the centre of the football universe, with Mourinho at United and Pep Guardiola in charge of City? This week, City were caned 4-0 at Barcelona and United whacked 4-0 at Chelsea: a humiliation so deep that Mourinho turned on Antonio Conte, the Chelsea manager, for whipping up the Stamford Bridge crowd when the score was already 4-0. Mourinho reportedly thought that was disrespectful.