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Jose Mourinho barely spoke to Manchester United players after Brighton defeat

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Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - August 19, 2018 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho before the match REUTERS/David Klein EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. — The Portuguese coach is not happy with the situation at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)

Jose Mourinho was so disappointed with Manchester Uniteds performance against Brighton he barely spoke to his players afterwards, though he is still determined to turn things around.

The Red Devils succumbed to a 3-2 defeat at the Amex Stadium last weekend, darkening Mourinhos mood after a frustrating summer in which he failed to land his top transfer targets.

According to The Times, Mourinho is becomingly increasingly unhappy at Old Trafford and his relationship with United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is extremely strained.

United were soundly beaten by Brighton at the Amex (Picture: Getty)

Woodward visited the United dressing room after the defeat, as he often does, though unusually decided to do so while Mourinho was still conducting post-match media duties.

When the Portuguese coach finally returned to the changing room, he gave his players short shrift and was hugely disappointed with their limp performance – though he has no intention of giving up and has vowed to remain at the club.

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Mourinho is still speaking to Woodward, though he is unhappy with the failure to land a centre-back having made the position a priority.

The former Chelsea boss submitted a list of five targets back in May, one of which was Leicester centre-back Harry Maguire, and there is a feeling around Carrington that he could have been signed had Woodward acted quicker.

Woodward and Mourinho are just about still on speaking terms (Picture: Getty)

Maguire excelled at the World Cup, bumping up his price tag to a record £75million and putting him out of Uniteds budget.

Uniteds hierarchy are still backing Mourinho despite suggestions Zinedine Zidane is being lined up as a replacement, though Monday nights clash with Tottenham Hotspur has taken on greater significance.