David Moyes is facing a mutiny among his Manchester United squad with the players increasingly at odds with their manager over his tactics and training methods, according to the Daily Telegraph.
• Payne: Humiliation now commonplace
United's owners, the Glazer family, have continued to offer their backing to Moyes despite the dismal 3-0 derby humiliation at the hands of Manchester City at Old Trafford.
Tuesday's defeat was United's sixth league loss at home this season and 10th overall, and the players are now said to be running out of patience with Moyes' approach to the job.
The Red Devils are seventh in the Premier League, 12 points adrift of Champions League qualification and 18 points off leaders Chelsea.
The Daily Telegraph claims that Moyes' squad are alarmed at the inability of their manager to halt United's slide, which has seen them lose eight of their 17 games in 2014.
Defeat to City was United's second consecutive home loss in the league after their comprehensive 3-0 drubbing by Liverpool earlier this month.
The newspaper claims that the defeats against the two rivals have raised concerns among United's squad that Moyes' cautious approach is not suited to the club's attacking traditions.
The players are said to be disgruntled with the Scot's focus on sessions centred around team shape and organisation, compared to the ball-related training they did during former manager Sir Alex Ferguson's reign with coaches Rene Meulensteen and Mike Phelan, who all departed the club last summer.
Following the Liverpool defeat, sources told ESPN FC that key boardroom figures had turned against Moyes, while the prospect of the manager getting sacked had been properly raised for the first time.
Ferguson came in for verbal abuse from irate fans near the directors' box at Old Trafford on Tuesday over his decision to handpick Moyes as the club's next manager.
Stewards were also forced to protect the “Chosen One” banner in the Stretford End that shows United fans' support for Moyes as Ferguson's successor. Supporters' group Stretford End Flags, who created the banner, has insisted it will remain on display at Old Trafford.
However, while senior figures at the club are concerned over recent results, the Glazers and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward are said to be determined to judge Moyes at the end of the season rather than act now.
United end their campaign at Southampton on May 31 and will finish with their lowest-ever Premier League points total.
Robin van Persie publicly questioned Moyes' tactics after the 2-0 Champions League defeat to Olympiakos last month, claiming his teammates were "occupying the spaces I want to play in."
The club denied reports that Ryan Giggs had had a bust-up with Moyes over his tactics and training methods earlier this month.