Jose: We’re way off winning back title

JOSE MOURINHO admits Manchester United have no chance of winning the title again any time soon.

United’s last Premier League triumph came in 2013, just before Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down as boss.

The Reds are down in eighth place in the table, a whopping 18 points behind leaders and reigning champions Manchester City.

Manager Mourinho has already admitted the top four is United’s target this season.

And he suggested the title will remain out of reach for a while if City are able to keep splashing the cash and go unchallenged over alleged breaches of spending rules.

Gap

Asked how long it will before United challenge for the title again, Mourinho said: “I don’t know. It depends on our evolution, but also others’ evolution.

“If the ones above us keep going in same direction and if their ambition and investment is continuous, that’s one thing.

“Another thing is if they stop, or if the Financial Fair Play makes them stop, and then we can close the gap a little bit better.

“The world is full of suggestions and I never know if they are true or not true, and that’s not my job to analyse that.”

Mourinho claimed United’s title drought will continue until City are reigned in by football’s authorities for their mega-spending.

City are facing the threat of a Champions League ban for breaking UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules by allegedly inflating the value of multimillion pound sponsorship deals to comply with FFP.

Under Pep Guardiola, City have spent around £527m while United have splashed £382.5m over the same two-and-a-half-year period under Mourinho.

Asked who was to blame for United’s regression this season, after finishing second last term, Mourinho said: “It’s no one’s fault.

“It’s one reality. The consequences of many things. I don’t think it’s fair to say it’s somebody’s fault.”

United host bottom side Fulham today, with Mourinho claiming there can be no excuses for not winning.

United are looking for their first win in the Premier League since November 3, after a run of one defeat and three draws.

“Fulham are in the same situation as us, but probably the way they are coming to play – or try to play – will not demand as much from them as it will demand from us,” said Mourinho.

“But no excuses. I sat here a few weeks ago speaking about the December month. No defeats, that’s a reality.

“I want to be positive and think that we’re going to win but, if we don’t, give credit to the people that deserve credit.”

Mourinho dropped United’s £89m record signing Paul Pogba in midweek against Arsenal, along with striker Romelu Lukaku, as he got ruthless with his under-performing squad.

Lukaku, with just one goal in 13 games, could miss out again today and Mourinho said: “He’s having a rest.”