Mourinho: Man Utd ready to enjoy several ‘better years’

Jose Mourinho: Faced the press on Friday afternoon

Jose Mourinho has predicted a return to success for Manchester United after hoping to finish an already strong season in emphatic fashion.

The Portuguese coach was appointed at Old Trafford last summer, but has already claimed the Community Shield and the League Cup, while there’s a further chance of glory with the club through to the semi-finals of the Europa League, where La Liga outfit Celta Vigo lie in wait.

With United also hoping to finish in the top of the Premier League – they face Manchester City in a vital clash on Thursday night – Mourinho has welcomed a possible return to power at Manchester United.

“I would say this can be the first season of the next five or six or seven. It can be the first season of better years,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.

“And the reality is even in the first season of better years we won already and we have already the chance to do good things until the end of the season.

“If we manage to win the Europa League and in August to play the European Super Cup against the Champions League winner, it will be magnificent.”

Mourinho is also gearing up for a busy summer of spending at Manchester United, with an £84million deal for Atletico’s Antoine Griezmann reportedly already agreed.

Mourinho, meanwhile, has described it as “common sense” for his public criticism of Manchester United stars if he sees them performing at ‘less than 100%’.

“I don’t care. I don’t even think about it,” he said.

“I just try to be who I am. I just try to be honest and direct, and I don’t think about the consequences.

“You give me everything you have, I thank you for that. You don’t give me everything you have, I ask you for more. That is just common sense.”