AFP, MANCHESTER: Jose Mourinho on Friday denied a rift with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward despite growing speculation over the power structure at Manchester United.

The manager turned up for his weekly pre-match press conference 30 minutes early, ensuring most reporters were not even in attendance, and was clearly in no mood to answer questions about United's difficult start to the season.

A testing summer, in which Woodward failed to deliver Mourinho's transfer targets, has been followed by apparent difficulties between the United manager and French World Cup winner Paul Pogba. Pogba has made enigmatic comments, suggesting he is not happy at Old Trafford, while his controversial agent Mino Raiola seemed to worsen the situation with a social media outburst against United great Paul Scholes.

Mourinho was tense and terse in his replies to questions on those topics in a press conference that lasted just eight minutes and was supposed to preview United's next Premier League game, at home to Tottenham on Monday.

But Mourinho, at least, claimed that his relationship with Woodward remained intact. When asked if his relationship with Woodward was “fine” Mourinho would only answer: “Of course”.

And when quizzed further on whether there was a problem with the United executive, Mourinho responded: “No”.

The veteran manager was equally unforthcoming when asked about Pogba who claimed, on Sunday after a defeat at Brighton, that his attitude was not "right" in the game.

“Paul said it, so he has to answer for his words,” said Mourinho. “If you want any explanation about Paul's words you must get him and ask him.”