Than that of other top sides, claims Mourinho

Mourinho echoed those same sentiments in his pre-Leicester press conference yesterday.

“We are not the only one, there are other teams in the same situation as we are. Leicester is one of them in the same situation,” he said.

“We did a simple objective study on that and it’s a big gap — a really big gap — between some clubs and other clubs.

“There are clearly the ones that are really privileged, there is clearly another group that are really punished by the decisions of the calendar and another group in the middle of it where I would like to be.”

The United manager added: “I know that I will never be in the top group, but I would like to be in the middle group.”

When subsequently asked whether he was implying that organisers had deliberately given United fewer days rest, Mourinho refused to comment.

“It’s a good question. You want me to be punished again, right?” he said.

The Portuguese was reminded not to court controversy by the Football Association on Thursday after escaping punishment for his remarks about referee Michael Oliver before the Manchester derby earlier this month.

Mourinho also confirmed that United will have to negotiate their busy Christmas period without Antonio Valencia after the wing-back picked up a hamstring injury in last weekend’s victory away to West Bromwich Albion.

Valencia, who has captained United this season in Michael Carrick’s absence, will not play any part in the trip to Leicester and is likely to sit out of the meetings with Burnley, Southampton and Everton too.

Club captain Carrick remains a long-term absentee after undergoing a procedure on a heart problem while his fellow midfielder Marouane Fellaini is also expected to sit out over the festive period while he recovers from a knee injury.

Eric Bailly, United’s other injury concern, underwent surgery on his ankle yesterday.

The Ivorian defender will remain sidelined for two to three months, a big blow for the Old Trafford club.