Mourinho sets sights on Liverpool and Arsenal

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Jose Mourinho identified Liverpool and Arsenal as Manchester United’s chief rivals for Champions League quali fication following his side’s 0- 0 draw at fellow top-four contenders Manchester City.

Thursday’s stalemate at the Etihad Stadium left United just a point below local foes City, who occupy the Premier League’s fourth and final Champions League qualifying berth.

But Mourinho bel ieves Liverpool, two points above United in third having played a game more, and Arsenal, four points below them having played a game less, are now their principal rivals.

“I think Man City is going to finish top four,” the United manager said. “The matches they have to play, I see them doing that. I think it’s between us, Arsenal and Liverpool.”

While United’s run-in features successive trips to Arsenal and second- place Tottenham Hotspur, City’s is more benign, a home game with eighth-place West Bromwich Albion their

I think Man City is going to finish top four. Jose Mourinho, Manchester United manager

most arduous test.

With a two- legged Europa League semi-final against Celta Vigo also looming on United’s horizon, Mourinho admitted his squad is being stretched to its limits.

“We have played 18 more matches than Liverpool ,” said the Portuguese, who side equalled the club record of 24 successive top- f light games without defeat.

“Eighteen more matches is like half of a Premier League, almost. Eighteen matches are many miles in the players’ legs. So if you can say that, it’s an unfair fight. But we are going for that. We have the semi-final on Thursday. We have a match (at home to Swansea City) Sunday, 12 o’clock.

“Twenty-four matches in the Premier League is a lot. The guys have an amazing spirit and here we go again, Sunday.” — AFP