Jose Mourinho slashed into favouritism in Premier League sack-race betting

Losing a League Cup tie is not normally seen as a defining moment in Manchester United's season, but Jose Mourinho once again finds himself under intense pressure following their shock exit against Sky Bet Championship outfit Derby.

Mourinho has been slashed to as low as 6-4 in the sack-race betting and is best at 3-1 to be the next Premier League manager to leave his current position after United suffered an embarrassing third-round exit after a shootout.

Ladbrokes quote just 4-7 that Mourinho is gone by Christmas with Coral going the same price but setting the date at January 1. They offer 5-4 that the Portuguese manages to ride out the latest setback and survive into 2019.

The Derby defeat, aided by the second-half dismissal of goalkeeper Sergio Romero, was bad enough although it was not even the biggest story of the day at Old Trafford with Paul Pogba stripped of the vice captaincy on Tuesday afternoon.

Mourinho has told Pogba he will never skipper the side again as long as he is in charge with reports indicating United have been unhappy with his performances and attitude, not to mention playing music too loudly on the team bus.

However, the World Cup winner is expected to outlast Mourinho so the decision may not be permanent, unless of course Pogba also departs with former club Juventus and Barcelona said to be chasing the midfielder.

Pogba is 9-4 with Paddy Power and Hills to depart Old Trafford before Mourinho, who is a 1-3 shot. Pogba can also be backed at 6-4 with Hills to leave United in the summer transfer window and 5-2 to jump ship in January.

Manchester may not be big enough for either ego, never mind both, and Power go 3-1 that United is a Mourinho and Pogba-free zone at the start of next season.

It's 2-7 with Coral for United to need a new manager for the beginning of the 2019-20 campaign with Power offering a market on Mourinho's eventual replacement, headed by three-times Champions League winning coach Zinedine Zidane.

The former Real Madrid ace is 2-1, followed by Antonio Conte at 6-1 with Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino 10-1.

Read every day for no-nonsense previews and expert sports betting tips

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport