MOURINHO EYES SECOND SEASON GLORY AT UNITED

Mourinho believes Manchester United are equipped to maintain his remarkable second season success rate by winning the Premier League title this term.

Mourinho has won the domestic league title at the end of his second year in each of his five major management jobs. He achieved the feat at Porto, Chelsea twice, Inter and Real Madrid, with the only exceptions to the rule being his first two management roles, at Benfica and Uniao de Leiria, where he lasted less than a season.

Mourinho’s optimism is based on three beliefs; he feels he has a more settled squad than when he arrived, that they have had a better pre-season and that their rivals at the top of the division will have greater distractions in European competition this time.

“What would it mean for me to be the Premier

League champion? I think it is the objective of every one of the top teams and every one of the top team managers,” Mourinho said.

“I don’t think I am going to win it because I always win it in the second season. Not at all. I just think that naturally, a manager in the second season knows the players and knows the club better. I don’t say I know the league better because I have been in this league for a long time. We are in a position to do quality work better than we did in the first season, so I am convinced that our second season is going to be better.”