Brighton 3-2 Manchester United: 4 key takeaways

#3 Transfer business coming to haunt United

It's been a frustrating summer for Mourinho, who handed his board a list of five players to obtain in the central defensive position but Ed Woodward didn't purchase any.

Mourinho indicated a disagreement between himself and the board on the type of players United need, but Sunday's game showed that the Portuguese needed the backing of the Man United hierarchy in the window to impose his will onto the team.

Alderweireld would have been a great addition to the team, bringing experience that could've been vital to the development of Bailly and Lindelof but the consequences of the board's refusal are on display.