Manchester United

Jose Mourinho: 'Heightened expectations holding me back'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 19 November 2016

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.