Mourinho in plea to Man Utd board over summer spending
Jose Mourinho has warned his Manchester United bosses that they will have to embark on another summer of heavy spending if they are to challenge Manchester City’s dominance next season.
The United boss launched a passionate 12-minute defence of the job he has done since taking charge during Friday’s press conference in the wake of the heavy criticism that has come their way following their Champions League exit to Sevilla.
The manager was keen to stress United should be happy with the progress they have made this season, despite being 16 points behind City in the title race, but insists further investment must be made if the club are to launch a stronger challenge for Premier League glory next season.
Pep Guardiola has spent roughly £80m more than Mourinho since taking charge in 2016 and the United boss warned: “We will try [to win the title] but the reality is that some clubs, they were more ready to win.
“One thing is to go for the jugular and another is to build in a different process. If the clubs that are in a better situation than us and stop investing and we invest then we are side to side.
“But if they are in a better situation and keep investing same or more, it’s difficult.”
Mourinho insisted he is only as good as the squad he inherited at Old Trafford and insisted their neighbours had spent more shrewdly over the past 10 years.
“In the last seven years Manchester City were champions twice – and if you want to say three times because they will be in a few more weeks — and they were second twice. That’s heritage,” said Mourinho.
“Do you know what is also heritage? It’s that (Nicolas) Otamendi, Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho, (David) Silva, (Raheem) Sterling, (Sergio) Aguero, they are investments from the past. Not from the last two years.”
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