Jose’s kisses highlight ‘close’ relationship with Woodward

Ian Watson

Ed Woodward has reportedly been making himself more visible at Manchester United training during the team’s disappointing start to the season.

The Red Devils have lost two of their opening three matches with manager Jose Mourinho and his relationship with the executive vice-chairman coming under intense scrutiny.

Woodward has tried to let it be known that their relationship remains close, despite the board refusing to satisfy the manager’s wishes during the transfer window.

Those decisions, especially the reluctance to spend big on a centre-half, already appear to have backfired, but amid the criticism, Woodward is seemingly keen to be seen around the club.

Woodward has an office at the club’s Carrington base and has been known to watch the squad train before, but his presence on the sidelines has reportedly been stepped up.

The Times says Woodward ‘has told friends that he has been impressed by the positive attitude of the squad in training in response to the two defeats in the first three games’.

Martyn Ziegler’s story also contains a wonderful nugget supposedly to highlight that Woodward and Mourinho remain close: “The two talk every day and Mourinho even texted Woodward with kisses to his three-year-old twins.”

So, nothing to worry about, United fans…