Mourinho: United need to spend more
Jose Mourinho claimed Manchester United will need to spend more money after dropping another two points in their faltering title challenge at home to Burnley.
United could fall 15 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City if their rivals win at Newcastle tonight following a 2-2 Boxing Day draw with the Clarets at Old Trafford.
It might even have been worse for Mourinho’s men had Jesse Lingard not come off the bench to score twice, including a stoppage-time equaliser, after the visitors had opened up a 2-0 lead.
Responding to a question that such a gap might be unacceptable for a club of United’s stature, Mourinho said in his press conference: “One thing is a big club and another thing is a big football team. They are two different things. “We are in the second year of trying to rebuild a football team that is not one of the best teams in the world. Manchester City buy full-backs for the price of strikers. When you speak about big football clubs, you are speaking about the history of the club.” When it was pointed out United have spent heavily – roughly £286million – since Mourinho took charge in 2016, the Portuguese said: “OK, (but) it is not enough. The price for the big clubs is different than for the other clubs. The big historical clubs, they are normally punished in the market because of their history.”
Burnley boss Sean Dyche was not downhearted, despite being moments away from a famous win, and focused on the positives, saying: “Overall, to come here and get a point is very pleasing, especially when the squad is stretched.”