Jose Mourinho needs to guide Manchester United to a top four finish to survive the sack at the end of this season.

That’s the claim of The Sun which reports Mourinho has been left in no doubt that Champions League football next season is critical to his future.

Old Trafford executives still admire Mauricio Pochettino, but it looks almost impossible to get him out of the water-tight contract he signed with Tottenham in the summer.

Both United and Real Madrid are keen to snare the Argentine but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will scrap tooth and nail to hang onto his man.

Mourinho signed a new deal at Old Trafford last season, but the penalty clause for firing him is a year’s salary — around £15m.