Beleaguered boss appears to be on borrowed time after CL draw

MANCHESTER－A fourth successive winless game and another dire performance, Manchester United's 0-0 Champions League draw with Valencia on Tuesday extended the club's current crisis and prompted manager Jose Mourinho to question his role in its struggles.

With media reports intensifying in the past few days that former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane was being lined up as Mourinho's replacement, the Portuguese cut a deflated figure at the post-match news conference after saying on Monday he felt no pressure.

Admitting he too was at fault for United's poor start to the season, Mourinho took some responsibility for backfiring tactics and team selection which he had previously defended adamantly.

"I think there are things that are difficult for me to say. I think you have enough reasons to criticize me," he said.

"We had probably a couple of the biggest chances to win it but I have accepted the result as a fair result. I said in preseason last season was phenomenal to finish second (in the Premier League). And I don't say more than that."

United's second-place finish last term flattered their cagey performances, but the formula－h(huán)eavily reliant on goalkeeper David De Gea's consistent heroics－was less likely to yield success this term.

With United seemingly lacking depth and quality in all departments to launch a title challenge, it is questionable whether axing Mourinho would bring an instant change of fortunes.

Although Mourinho may be on borrowed time, with United nine points off the pace－set by Manchester City and Liverpool－in the Premier League after they were also dumped out of the League Cup by second-tier Derby County, the current squad looks unlikely to start firing on all cylinders under another manager.

A shaky defense looks in constant need of protection by a midfield lacking creativity. This has the effect of forcing the forwards to drop deep in a predictable pattern, no matter how often the formation is reshuffled.

"We don't have the technical quality to build from the back," said Mourinho, conceding United's most glaring weakness, which West Ham exploited to devastating effect in Saturday's 3-1 league victory.

"Our attacking players aren't in their best moments of confidence and individual level," he added.

Mourinho then showed how far expectations have been lowered at the club, which dominated the English game for two decades under former manager Alex Ferguson.

"We have Newcastle before the league stops (for the international break), then we have Chelsea and Juventus in three days. It will be good for the team if we can beat Newcastle," he said.

Judging by United's results and performances, victory against the Premier League's 18th-placed team, which has managed only two points from seven games and scored just four goals in the process, cannot be taken for granted.

Reuters