Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho picked up a potentially job-saving win over the weekend after his troops came away from Burnley with a 2-0 triumph, which followed back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Tottenham.
The result has eased the pressure a little on Mourinho who now ventures into the international break with a smile back on his face, and the support of many fans, but he knows full well that a defeat at high-flying Watford in their next outing would hurl him back into the pressure put.
But while the Portuguese coach remains the favourite for the sack at 3/1, alongside West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini, he has made light of a potential sacking, telling Italian publication La Repubblica:
"They say I'm in danger, but I don't think it. If they send me away, do you have any idea how much money they would have to give me?"
He’s right as well. The Times reports that the United may well be hesitant to pull the managerial trigger considering how much money the club would have to shed out - a reported £15million = a year’s salary - which would dwarf that paid to the two managers who followed Sir Alex Ferguson.
United had to pay former boss Louis van Gaal and his staff £8.4 million after giving the Dutchman the boot only 48 hours after he lifted the FA Cup.
Van Gaal’s predecessor David Moyes and his own coaching staff were paid £5.2m for less than 10 months work.
If United do sack Mourinho, and in turn pay him £15m, it’s still some way off the Premier League record of £18m which he received from Chelsea back in 2007, while his compensation was £8.3m after his second spell came to a close.
Earlier in the summer Chelsea (eventually) axed Antonio Conte and the two parties are now locked in a legal battle, which could result in the Blues paying their ex-boss £9m.
Meanwhile, Sam Allardyce has pocketed a combined £13.5m in compensation during his managerial career, including £6m for eight months work at his last employers Everton, and £1m from England after only one game in charge.
