Mourinho: Now United are on the up once again

JOSE Mourinho believes this could be the ‘first season of better years’ for United particularly if they win the Europa League.

Having lifted the Community Shield and EFL Cup earlier this season, the Reds have a Europa League semi-final against Celta Vigo to come.

United could yet qualify for the Champions League through their league position and lie just a point off fourth-placed City ahead of tomorrow’s derby.

And, although United have now gone four seasons without winning a title, Mourinho believes this campaign will set them up for further glory.

“It doesn’t matter what happens in terms of titles we win or don’t win,” he said.

“I always feel the season is very important for me, the players and the club. I would say this can be the first season of the next five or six or seven. It can be the first season of better years.

“And the reality is even in the first season of better years we won already and we have already the chance to do good things until the end of the season.

“If we manage to win the Europa League and in August to play the European Super Cup against the Champions League winner, it will be magnificent.”

Mourinho has lost just seven games since landing his dream job at Old Trafford last summer.

And he believes the challenge of returning United to the top again is similar to the one he experienced at Real Madrid in 2010.

“I would say it’s similar to the Real Madrid one because they were two giants in two difficult periods,” he added. “You go to the giant club, you feel the dimension, you feel the pressure and you feel the expectation.”