Former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood says Manchester United's problems are down to the board, not manager Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho was brought in to replace Louis van Gaal in 2016 and he won the Europa League and League Cup in his first season in charge.

He followed that up with a second-place finish in the Premier League last season but the Red Devils are already 16 points behind Liverpool this time around.

"It's not a criticism of Jose because it's the people who brought him to the football club," Sherwood told Sky Sports.

"You don't have to be a football expert to know that's what Jose delivers - pragmatic football which will win.

"It might not be pretty all of the time but normally they fill the trophy cabinet up.

"The people who gave him the job must have known that.

"They wanted to win more than keep their identity. There's certain managers who could not even be considered to manage Barcelona. They stick to their identity - if we're going to win, we'll do it this way, not change our way just to win a trophy.

"I agree with them, that's absolutely right. It's not about Jose. Why should he have to change? This is what he does.

"He's been doing it for years, he's very successful at it.

"It's the people who gave him the job."