MX23RW : Friday, November 8 19:15:40| >> :60:2882:2882:

Jose Mourinho: 'Heightened expectations holding me back'

Mourinho: 'I've set the level too high'
© SilverHub
Jose Mourinho believes that his impressive haul of silverware at previous clubs is to blame for the criticism he has faced in the opening months of his Man United tenure.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has claimed that recent criticism aimed in his direction is down to his own past success elsewhere, as he has now "put the level so high".

The Portuguese has made a slower start than expected since taking over at Old Trafford in the summer, winning nine of his first 17 games at the helm in all competitions.

Ahead of this weekend's showdown with Arsenal, the Red Devils find themselves off the pace in the Premier League after hitting a sticky patch of form in recent weeks, leading to questions already being asked of the former Chelsea chief's management style.

Mourinho believes that the recent criticism is his own doing, with the heightened expectations coming as a result of his impressive haul of silverware at previous clubs.

"Maybe it's my fault," he told reporters. "Maybe I put the level so high, that people don't expect different than that. I won at every club, I was champion in every club, I won cups with every club. I won in every country, I won in four different countries. I won in Europe, I won in domestic competitions.

"I won always in the first or second season, so nobody here is saying 'OK, let's see if he can win with Man United at the third season'. Nobody is saying that, nobody is saying that. Nobody says I deserve time, that I deserve credibility, that it's not a bad result that affects the credibility of somebody with 23 titles in four different countries.

"That's just that. Maybe it's my fault, so I'm not even against you or upset with the pundits that are being critical. Maybe I should be proud of it, because maybe it's my fault."

Mourinho recently questioned the attitude of certain members of his playing squad, despite seeing his side return to winning ways prior to the international break with victory at Swansea City.

ID:285584: cacheID:285584:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2919:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho watches on from the stands ahead of his side's Premier League clash with Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on November 6, 2016
Read Next:
Mourinho: 'Arsenal defeat would be bad'
>
Read more about Jose Mourinho Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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!