Ed Woodward Addresses Jose Mourinho Transfer Disputes at Manchester United

Jose Mourinho ended his time as Manchester United manager on disappointing terms, and the club's executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, has discussed disputes between the pair on some transfer decisions.

"The Special One" was recently appointed Tottenham Hotspur manager, almost one year after he was sacked at Old Trafford, where it was largely known Mourinho didn't get his way with transfers as hoped.

Woodward recently spoke to United We Stand (h/t Mirror's Rich Jones) and hinted at some transfer disagreements with Mourinho, nodding to others who had input on which players the club pursued:

"It is true that there was a difference of opinion on one or two players between the manager and the recruitment department.

"Sometimes I have to be one who delivers the 'no,' which isn't easy, because our natural tendency is to back the manager in every possible circumstance, but we have to listen to the recruitment experts too."

Woodward, an investment banker, helped the Glazer family in their 2005 takeover of the Premier League club and was offered a role with the outfit thereafter. The 48-year-old has earned some criticism from fans and supporter groups for prioritising revenue too far ahead of the on-field product.

Mourinho has earned something of a reputation for having an expensive taste in football, racking up considerable bills at the likes of United, Chelsea and Real Madrid in his more recent posts.

Sky Sports Statto noted the stricter spending at Spurs may not be what Mourinho has grown accustomed to in recent employments:

Mauricio Pochettino made it to last season's UEFA Champions League final despite not making a summer signing at the start of the term, the first Premier League manager to do so since the system was introduced.

The Times' Henry Winter agreed Tottenham may require a lot of change on Mourinho's part if they're to achieve their title aspirations:

The Portuguese was still at the United helm in March 2018, when he gave a press conference speech about "football heritage." There, he said the only way his side could catch then-dominant Premier League leaders Manchester City was if their local rivals stopped spending.

Despite not getting every target he wanted at United, Mourinho still spent around £370 million in three-and-a-half years at the club. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in charge of the team now and has already received backing with signings like £80 million Harry Maguire and £45 million Aaron Wan-Bissaka this past summer.

Many supporters at Old Trafford would contend there has to be change in United's board for success to return to the club, with results having slumped during Woodward's seven years on the board of directors.

Football writer Colin Millar recently suggested Woodward's position at the club would be safe provided he delivered growth in revenue, citing some poor decisions in which he would have played a leading hand:

The Red Devils are in the hunt for UEFA Europa League glory this season and return to action in Group L on Thursday when they travel to Astana.