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Jose Mourinho: Manchester United boss says Manchester City are practically impossible to follow

Last updated on .From the section Man Utdcomments512

Mourinho praises 'fantastic' first-half display

Manchester City are "practically impossible" to keep pace with as they close in on the title, says Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.

City won 3-1 at Everton on Saturday, meaning they will clinch the title - their first since 2013-14 - by beating United at Etihad Stadium next weekend.

Second-placed United have earned 68 points after 31 games, but still trail Pep Guardiola's side by 16 points.

"In other leagues we would be fighting for the title," said Mourinho.

United remain on course for their highest finish in the Premier League since winning the 2012-13 title in Sir Alex Ferguson's final season in charge, having finished seventh, fourth, fifth and sixth in the past four campaigns.

Their points tally is exactly the same as Tottenham had at the 31-game mark last season;external-link Mauricio Pochettino's men then just seven points behind the leaders, Chelsea.

But, after a Champions League last-16 exit against Sevilla and accusations of playing "boring" football, Mourinho has faced some criticism in his second season in charge at United.

The 55-year-old Portuguese has repeatedly defended his side's results, most notably in an impassioned 12-minute speech during a news conference earlier this month.

Before Saturday's 2-0 home win against Swansea, Mourinho used his matchday programme notes to again claim United is a club "in transition".

Afterwards, he pointed to their league record and an upcoming FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham as evidence of their improvement this season.

"Last season we won titles but finished sixth in the league," said Mourinho, who led United to the League Cup and Europa League.

"We want to finish second this year and have 10 points more than last season, more goals scored, less goals conceded, but there is a club which is making it practically impossible to follow.

"We are having a positive season and we still have the FA Cup to come. We are going to fight for our presence there."

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512 comments

  • Comment posted by User0084070199, at 19:58 31 Mar 2018

    I'm from an old cotton town near Manchester, but don't support either of them. I think he's right, even though he's seemed to be having a mental breakdown recently. No one including the most ardent City fan realised how good they'd be this season. They've been so consistent, the only blip so far was in the cup. Season start everyone thought it'd be close between them, but really over by Xmas.

  • Comment posted by SteH11, at 19:42 31 Mar 2018

    So glad we have the gentleman Pep rather than this boring, joke of a man!

  • Comment posted by Kerry, at 19:51 31 Mar 2018

    Mourinho is an effective results based manager, with the product awful to watch. I give him another season at Man U before they get rid. His dour, boring pragmatic football is wrecking the brand.

    The poster boy for boring winning football, difference this time he’s being beaten by the poster boy for exciting winning football.

    Gray hair, gray coat, gray football.

  • Comment posted by Celts, at 19:39 31 Mar 2018

    Can't wait for Guardiola to shut this man up once and for all next weekend. No doubt Mourinho will park the double decker but it's gonna be great to see us cut through them and lift the title in front of them!

    Manchester is blue and he knows it!!!

  • Comment posted by PranR17, at 19:47 31 Mar 2018

    Growing up as a City fan in the 90's I'd usually be happy to draw at home to Man U!

    But if you offered me a 1-0 win right now I honestly wouldn't take it. It'll be nice to win the title infront of them but not enough, I want to humilate them. Show them just how far ahead of them we are! If we get an early goal they will have to come and attack us and if they do that it'll be a cricket score!

  • Comment posted by D1679092449428, at 19:37 31 Mar 2018

    Not really new they couldn't even keep up with Sevilla

  • Comment posted by SamB, at 19:40 31 Mar 2018

    Can't wait for Guardiola to give this fool a lesson in football next weekend!

  • Comment posted by More Like It, at 09:18 1 Apr 2018

    Man Utd pay the highest wages in world football, and have spent astronomical amounts signing players.
    They should be able to keep pace with Man City, this is an admission of failure by Mourinho.

  • Comment posted by IssP227, at 19:51 31 Mar 2018

    Must be so annoying for him. All his claims of being the 'special one', he's not even the best manager in his own city!

    After next season i'm sure he'll meltdown and go running off to PSG.

  • Comment posted by Have My Say, at 21:00 31 Mar 2018

    Give a decent manager like Pep, Poch or Klopp the finances at Utd and you have a different result. The game has move on Jose. Your boring tactics don't win league titles anymore!

  • Comment posted by D1679304119067, at 01:53 1 Apr 2018

    I just want to point something out that's lost on a few people re: Jose/Pep transfers and comparing money spent. Man City's best players are De Bruyne, Aguero, David Silva, Fernandinho, and their best CB partnership is Kompany/Otamendi (much improved). Their best players and the spine of their team- everyone agree?

    Well, Pep didn't actually buy any of them. He inherited the spine of his team.

  • Comment posted by Jefficity, at 19:43 31 Mar 2018

    He's almost admitted that peps schooled him

  • Comment posted by Jay74, at 06:31 1 Apr 2018

    Given that their net spend is very similar he's basically saying that Pep is better than him.

    Hilarious.

  • Comment posted by User0638418214, at 21:47 31 Mar 2018

    Maureen has spent the same as Pep and ten times more net spend than Klopp and Poch and he serves you up that turgid brand of anti football so of course United will never beat City while he is manager.

  • Comment posted by 3lions, at 05:51 1 Apr 2018

    The truth be told is that if the managers swapped clubs Pep would be winning the title with Utd.

    This is for two reasons:

    1. He manages the players well and gets the best out of them.

    2. Mourinho doesn’t.

  • Comment posted by The Belly Putter, at 08:36 1 Apr 2018

    Jose,

    It’s impossible to chase anything with a parked bus😉

  • Comment posted by MCFC Mike, at 08:51 1 Apr 2018

    Just been reading all the comments by bitter ManUre fans on the Man City link.Referring to us as 'Oil City'.You just have to laugh at their jealousy,this from a team that have the 3 most expensive players in Prem league history in Pogba,Lukaku and Di Maria,not to mention Sanchez's astronomical wages etc lol

  • Comment posted by User0481925685, at 19:46 31 Mar 2018

    Spurs will knock them out of the FA Cup - no trophies this season and the Surrey rags will follow anyone who is winning things.

  • Comment posted by Ohcomeonnow, at 10:19 1 Apr 2018

    It was MU not MC who agreed to pay the Sanchez £500,000 tax free a week. MU spend the money but Mourinho's record in the transfer market is poor.

    He sold De Bruyne, Salez & Lukaku. If they were still at Chelsea playing alongside Hazard, Kante & Willian Chelsea would be challenging MC & Mourinho would still be their manager.

    Truth is ...... he's not a good judge of football talent.

  • Comment posted by User0655414600, at 14:41 1 Apr 2018

    Mourinho’s teams cost a fortune and play crap football, I would watch Liverpool and City all day. Utd I wouldn’t cross the road to watch. The man has spent more money than any other manager and is obnoxiously arrogant.

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