Mourinho: Every team got better and we didn’t

JOSE Mourinho has bluntly conceded United are the only team from the Premier League’s traditional top six who have failed to improve.

The Reds are eight points adrift of Arsenal ahead of tonight’s clash against Unai Emery’s side at Old Trafford.

Mourinho’s downbeat mood in pre-season set the tone for the competitive campaign, with the United manager frustrated by the club’s failure to clinch two of his priority targets.

Champions City strengthened their attack with the £60m Riyad Mahrez, Liverpool spent £170m and Chelsea reinforced their squad with a £128m outlay.

Arsenal have been re-energised by new coach Emery and, although Tottenham became only the second Premier League club not to make an addition in the transfer window era, Mourinho marvelled at their internal investment in that they kept all of their players.

He said: “You always think in a positive way, you always think the distance (to City) is not going to be so big.

“But I told clearly that last season we did not get the credit that we deserved.

“I think last season, to finish second and to play the FA Cup final and to qualify in the Champions League group as first, last season at all we didn’t get the credit we deserved.

“All of the teams, they got better. Spurs was the team that didn’t make a direct investment but the best investment is to keep the top players that you have.

“So every team got better and we didn’t.

“So I was expecting difficulties for this season, but my target is still the top four and we have to fight until the end to try to finish in the top four.”