Mourinho: United are not ready to win everything

Jose Mourinho has told Manchester United fans to forget about a return to their dominant best, saying his team are not ready to compete for major trophies.

United have struggled since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement four years ago, winning just one FA Cup and one EFL Cup since – as well as sacking both David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.

Mourinho, who joined the club last summer, has struggled to push the club back into the title race – with his side sitting sixth for much of the campaign.

And, despite leading United to the EFL Cup, the Portuguese believes his side are far from the finished article in an alarming admission.

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“We are not ready to be Manchester United,” he said. “We are not ready to be a dominant force. We are not ready to try and win everything.

“Because of the nature of the club, and of myself, we are ready to fight for every game, every point. But there is a space between the general ambition of such a giant club and what we are in reality.”

United’s best hope of securing Champions League football next season may be via the Europa League.

And Mourinho believes success is vital, with one trophy not enough for a  club the size of the Red Devils.

“Many other teams in England are going to finish the season without a trophy,” he said.

“But we have to fight for the top four, we have to fight for the Champions League. The cup is not enough to say that the season is over.”