£300 million spent not enough for Mourinho
manchester — Jose Mourinho says Manchester United are struggling to compete with Manchester City’s financial might and the sum of nearly £300 million he has spent on transfers is not enough to win the Premier League.
A 2-2 draw with Burnley on Tuesday saw United lose further ground in the table to Pep Guardiola’s runaway leaders, who are 12 points clear with a game in hand.
Mourinho claimed that United’s illustrious history does not guarantee them — or any similar club — success when faced with City’s huge resources.
“When you say a club ‘like Manchester United’, do you think Milan is not as big as us?” said Mourinho, listing other big European clubs who are struggling domestically.
“You think they are not as big as we are? Do you think Real Madrid are not as big as we are? You think Inter Milan is not as big as we are?
“There are many big clubs and you say big clubs, I know what is a big club. One thing is a big club and another thing is a big football team that you know is not one of the best
Manchester City buy the full backs for the price of the strikers
Jose Mourinho
teams in the world.” “Manchester City buy the full backs for the price of the strikers, so when you speak about big football clubs, you are speaking about the history of the club,” he added.
Despite City’s strikingly successful transfer policy allied to their f
Meanwhile, Antonio Conte insists the battle for a top four finish is providing Chelsea with all the motivation they need, even if Premier League leaders Manchester City out of reach.
Conte’s side recovered from the disappointment of a pre-Christmas draw at Everton by beating Brighton 2-0 on Tuesday to move within a point of second-placed Manchester United.
With City on a record-breaking run of victories, Blues boss Conte admits there appears to be little chance of closing the gap. But the Italian insisted last season’s champions are still motivated.
“I think in this league there is a great motivation for all. To try, I repeat, to stay there and to fight until the end,” he said.
“I don’t know if it will win the title. It depends upon Manchester City. They are doing something extraordinary to win every game and draw only once up to now. That means you’re having a fantastic run.
Financial muscle, Mourinho himself has still managed to spend £286 million ($383 million, 323 million euros) in his two summers in charge at Old Trafford — although he was adamant that was not enough.
“It is not enough, is not enough,” he said. “And the price for the big clubs, the price for the big clubs is different from the other clubs.
“So the big, historical clubs are normally punished in the market for that history, so the boys are doing what they can and they are doing fine.”
But United’s dropping of seven points in their past five games — including conceding a last-minute
Points lead for Man City over United in the English
Premier League equaliser at Leicester on Saturday, has left City coasting towards the league title.
“You say (we dropped) seven points from 15,” said Mourinho. “I say the last two matches we had 15 chances to score and we concede three... goals and an amazing free-kick.
“So the boys do what they can, they are trying hard with the problems and injuries we have. I am not happy with the result, and against Leicester, but I am happy with my players.”
United needed an injury-time equaliser from substitute Jesse Lingard — who also scored their first — to rescue even a point against Burnley, who had taken a 2-0 firsthalf lead through Ashley Barnes and Steven Defour. —