Mourinho draws on the positives of Manchester United run

Jose Mourinho is interpreting Manchester United’s propensity for drawing matches this season as a sign of resilience, rather than a reason for their stuttering top-four bid.

United are the Premier League’s current draw specialists, having been held to stalemates at Old Trafford by both West Bromwich Albion and Everton in their last two outings.

However, Mourinho’s men are currently on a 20-match unbeaten run and the Red Devils boss is keen to draw on the positives of that sequence, despite his troops so far failing to make the most of their games in hand on the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.

“I think it’s a good feeling to know we don’t lose many matches, that we have a fantastic run of 20 games unbeaten in the Premier League,” said the United boss, whose team host Sunderland on Saturday.

“I know, as an example, 10 matches, 10 draws, 10 points, or 10 matches, five victories, five defeats, 15 points – what’s better? The 15 points, obviously.

“But in terms of looking to the future, I prefer to look at 10 matches, 10 draws, because you have something that’s not easy to have.

“You are quite solid mentally, difficult to beat. You fight against difficult circumstances. That kind of mentality of resilience; it’s good to have it.

“But the points are the reality and it would be better for us in 10 matches to have five victories and five defeats.”