Man Utd unlucky not to be challenging Chelsea – Ferguson

Man Utd: Held to series of unfortunate home draws

Man Utd: Held to series of unfortunate home draws

Sir Alex Ferguson has hailed the job Jose Mourinho has done at Manchester United – and believes only misfortune has prevented the club challenging Chelsea for the Premier League title this season.

Although fifth-placed United face a battle to finish in the top four, Ferguson nevertheless believes United but for a series of dropped points at home – games in which they’ve been unlucky not to win – they would be challenging Chelsea.

Ferguson, whose former side trail Chelsea by 17 points with a game in hand, cites matches they dominated at Old Trafford, against Stoke City, Burnley, Arsenal, Hull City and Bournemouth, which all ended in draws.

Speaking about Mourinho’s first season in charge, Ferguson told US radio station Sirius XM FC: “I get on well with Jose and think he’s doing a really good job.

“He’s been a bit unlucky actually because there are home games this season they’ve been absolutely brilliant in but have drawn them. If they’d got those wins they deserved they’d be challenging for the league, there’s no doubt about that.”

Ferguson, who also urged United to focus on winning the Europa League if they want to return to the Champions League next season, believes winning the EFL Cup against Southampton last month was a significant moment in Mourinho’s reign.

“Winning a trophy at United is the most important thing,” he added. “That’s what the club’s history is about – winning trophies.

“I looked upon the League Cup as the manager [Mourinho] does: this is an important trophy. I was fortunate to win it four times. It doesn’t matter what the trophy is, if you get to a final you want to win it.”