Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is allegedly unhappy with the club's ballboys and has blamed them for contributing to their faltering home form.

The Red Devils equalled a club record of 40 home games unbeaten last month before Manchester City ended that run, and since then they have managed a narrow win and two draws in the league at Old Trafford.

According to The Sun, Mourinho is said to be frustrated at the "speed" the ballboys have been doing their job and believes that they have "hampered his side's chances of quickfire attacks".

The Portuguese manager was also upset with the way the ballboys - teenagers sourced from local schools - performed last season and considered replacing them with youngsters from the Academy, a proposal he could return to this term if he remains unimpressed.

United remain 15 points behind City in the race for the Premier League title this term.