With Manchester United currently in a poor position on the Premier League table, the reason for the Red Devils board's hesitance to sack Portuguese tactician Jose Mourinho  has now reportedy been revealed.

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After United's past two league results – a 0-0 stalemate with Crystal Palace and a 2-2 draw with Southampton – Mourinho appears to be in trouble once again.

Many have bemoaned United's style of play this season, with pundits and fans alike attributing the pragmatic approach and slow starts to Mourinho's failure to motivate his players.

The Red Devils went 2-0 to down to the Saints within 17 minutes on Saturday, but were able to pull two goals back before the first half ended.

Despite Mourinho's job seemingly being in jeopardy, ESPN has claimed that the club's board is reluctant to fire the Portuguese manager purely because the team is still in the UEFA Champions League.

Although United's 1-0 win over Young Boys in Europe last week was far from convincing, it was enough to secure the Red Devils qualification to the next round of the competition.

However, their league position is a cause for major concern as United are currently closer to the relegation zone than to Manchester City at the top of the table.

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Another worrying factor is Mourinho's relationship with certain players, with the tactician having recently criticised certain younger players for their lack of maturity and falling out with Paul Pogba once again.

What do you think the future holds for Mourinho at United? Let us know in the comments section below.