Jose Mourinho: 'Manchester United behind Real Madrid, Barcelona'

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has admitted that his team are not currently at the same level as either Real Madrid or Barcelona.

Man United beat Real Madrid on penalties at the weekend after the two teams played out a 1-1 draw in the International Champions Cup, but the Red Devils suffered a 1-0 defeat to Barcelona at the FedEx Field on Wednesday night.

Mourinho has said that the "reality" is that Real Madrid and Barcelona are currently ahead of his team, but the Portuguese is pleased to have faced the Spanish giants during pre-season.

"The level of my team? If you want to compare with Real Madrid or Barcelona, it is easy to compare the level of the players and quality of the team. But we don't play in the same competition as them unless we meet in Europe, so we prefer not to compare ourselves with them," Mourinho told reporters.

"We prefer to compare with teams in the Premier League and we are much more adapted to that very hard competition. It has a different style, a different kind of player. In this moment the best players are in these two clubs and you have to accept that as a reality.

"But for us to play against both in pre-season without pressure or being worried about a result, just trying to play the best we can, was very good for us. Both played with their best team. Barcelona did. Only [Gerard] Pique was on the bench. Real Madrid, only [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Sergio] Ramos didn't play. So it is very, very good for us to measure against them."

Man United will open their Premier League campaign at home to West Ham United on August 13.