Mourinho convinced United’s ‘house’ can be rebuilt

FOR someone who has spent the past two-and-a-half years living in a hotel, houses would not seem to be Jose Mourinho’s specialist subject.

But the Manchester United boss turned to a housing analogy when asked whether his side, currently languishing in sixth place, would be in the title mix had he been able to spend at the same level as Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp in the summer.

Klopp presided over a £177million spend, while Mourinho was restricted to a £72.5m outlay on new players, the gulf in spending reflected – in Mourinho’s eyes – by their respective positions in the league table, with United trailing their arch-rivals by 16 points.

The Portuguese is frustrated he was not allowed to spend more freely in the summer, but hinted he is facing more complex problems behind the scenes, as he tries to put his club’s own house in order and steer them back on track.

“It’s not just about the money they spent in the summer,” said Mourinho (above). “It’s about many things, many things.

“It’s not just about spending money and reinforcing the squad, a football team is more than that.

“A football team is not just about spending the money. A football team is a little bit like a house, too.

“A house is not just about buying new furniture – you have to do work in the house and, when the house is ready, then you buy furniture.

“You spend money on the best possible furniture and then you’re ready to live in an amazing house.”

With nine players currently injured (including Alexis Sanchez, above) and several facing the prospect of having to play through the pain barrier, United travel to Anfield more in hope than expectation, despite Mourinho’s claim they can pull off a shock win.

The self-titled Special One has not lost at Liverpool since the 2007 Champions League semi-final second leg, when his Chelsea side were beaten 1-0 to miss out on the final.

Against the backdrop of that impressive record at Anfield, Mourinho remains bullish about securing a positive result, even with his personnel severely depleted.

“I’m going to try,” he added. “I want to play a team that is capable to be with me on that desire, on that ambition and on that confidence.

“We know we’re going to play against the leaders, against a team on a high, but we have our qualities, we have our potential.

“Even with the problems and doubts in terms of team choice, tactics, approach, philosophy – we have doubts about everything because we don’t know which players are available.

“We’re going to arrive with the players we have available and have a team capable of going there and fighting for the victory.”