MOURINHO’S FINE WHINE

Spending is the reason Manchester City is speeding clear of Manchester United in the English Premier League race, according to Jose Mourinho.

After salvaging a 2-2 draw against Burnley, second-placed United trails City by 12 points and Pep Guardiola’s side can extend that advantage when it faces Newcastle on Wednesday.

“Manchester City buy the full backs for the price of the strikers,” United manager Mourinho said, referring to the summer purchases of Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy for a combined figure of more than 100 million pounds ($133 million).

“Is not enough, is not enough,” Mourinho said of his own expenditure at United, about 300 million pounds in the last 19 months.

“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.”

It could have been worse for United. Jesse Lingard came off the bench at halftime to score twice and cancel out first-half strikes from Burnley’s Ashley Barnes and Steven Defour.

United was at least on the right side of a stoppage-time equalizer this time, having conceded in the final moments last Saturday to give up the lead at Leicester. United was just one point ahead of third-placed Chelsea, which continued its strong home form by beating Brighton 2-0. — AP