Manchester United insiders deny the criticism of management claimed by manager Jose Mourinho.

The Sun says Mourinho claimed a director of football is a MUST during his first interview since being sacked as boss a month ago.

Yet United say Mourinho was AGAINST any such move at Old Trafford.

Mourinho said: “A club must have an owner or president, a CEO or direct executive, a sports director or football director and then a football manager.

“This is a structure that can cope with all the problems that modern football is bringing to us."

United say they were trying to introduce that structure — with a director of football — but were put off by Mourinho's opposition.