MX23RW : Friday, March 29 06:31:53| >> :120:20980:20980:
[monks data]
Attendance: 31,848
Spurs logo
Premier League
May 14, 2017 at 4.30pm UK
 
Manchester United logo

2-1

Wanyama (6'), Kane (49')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Rooney (71')

Jose Mourinho "not upset" to miss out on top-four spot

Mourinho
© SilverHub
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho insists that winning trophies like the Europa League should be a priority for the club ahead of a top-four finish.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said that he will always prioritise winning trophies over finishing in the top four.

United saw their slim hopes of qualifying for the Champions League via a top-four Premier League finish extinguished once and for all this afternoon as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.

Mourinho has prioritised winning the Europa League ahead of his side's domestic exploits in recent weeks, though, and he claims that he had no choice but to focus on one competition due to United's lengthy injury list.

"I am not upset because we had to make that decision. When people say we gamble, we didn't gamble, we didn't choose the Europa League - we had to do it. Because if I have Ashley Young, Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, if I had these guys I can rotate, I can go for every match. When I have 14, 15 players, I can't do it. It's as simple as that. It is not possible to do it every three days," he told reporters.

"With two matches in hand that we had to play later, it is impossible. We never had one occasion to rest, not even to train properly, so it was not a choice. We were pushed for that situation and even the [fixtures] draw... I never understood if it is a draw or if they put the data in the computer, but to finish the season with four matches away from home - Arsenal, Tottenham, Man City - if we were fighting for the title, what a way to fight for the title.

"If we want to try and get some results and protect players, which matches to protect players? I cannot go to Manchester City or Arsenal and put out five kids at the same time altogether. I cannot lose 5-0 or 6-0. So it's difficult but we know what we are doing and I don't know other clubs, I don't know the way they think, I don't know what is important for them. We, Manchester United, for us it is more important to win titles than to finish top four.

"So if we can win a third title, or like you like to say a second title, if we can do that it would be magnificent for us because we know that it's a big objective. We know that if we lose the final we don't play Champions League. We know that. But we fight for titles and probably other clubs finishing in the top four, probably they would like to be in our position to try and fight for the title."

United take on Southampton and Crystal Palace in their final two domestic games of the campaign before facing Ajax in the Europa League final on May 24.

ID:298208: cacheID:298208:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3833:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Ashley Young of Manchester United reacts to being injured during the game against Everton on April 4, 2017
Read Next:
Mourinho confirms Young's season is over
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!