Jose Mourinho has offered a staunch defence of his record as Manchester United boss by suggesting that the club has no right to be competing in the latter stages of the Champions League.
The 55-year-old came under fire in midweek for his use of tactics in the Red Devils' 2-1 home loss to Sevilla, ending their European participation before the quarter-final stage.
United won the EFL Cup and Europa League in Mourinho's first campaign at the helm, and remain on course to add an FA Cup to their collection in the coming weeks.
After having his managerial credentials questioned in recent days, though, the experienced former Real Madrid, Chelsea and Inter Milan boss has hit back at his critics and stressed that he is perfectly happy with his record at Old Trafford.
"For 10 months I win nothing, the last title that I won was 10 months ago, I beat Liverpool, Chelsea, I lose against Sevilla and now is their moment to be happy," he told reporters during an 11-minute rant. "I learn that in my religious formation, be happy with others happiness, so be it, I am a really happy guy. I say to the fans that the fans are the fans and have the right to their opinions and reactions, but there is something that I used to call football heritage.
"One day when I leave, the next United manager will find here Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic, of course David de Gea from many years ago, they will find players with a different mentality, quality, background, with a different status, know-how. For some reason you go to the Champions League quarter-final like today and there are four clubs that are always there, always there.
"Barcelona is always there in the past seven, eight years, Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich and then of course appear now and again, another club like my Inter, like some other clubs like Monaco last season, but the ones that are always there is for some reason. The good thing for me and the amazing feeling for me is that I am exactly on the same page as the owners, as Mr [Ed] Woodward, Mr [Richard] Arnold, we are on exactly the same page, we agree on everything, on the investments, that we have what we have, the investments that we are going to do will be season after season, we are exactly on the same page, so life is good.
"I have an amazing job to do. Yesterday I met a new person we have working in the club in a different area that came from another club and I ask why did you decide to come. The person told me I did a fantastic job in another club and at this club I have a huge job and I come for the challenge."
Mourinho's United side are back in action on Saturday evening with an FA Cup quarter-final home tie against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Daniel Lewis
