Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has admitted that his side will need to be "much better" this season if they are to challenge for trophies.
The Red Devils won the Community Shield, EFL Cup and Europa League during Mourinho's debut campaign at the helm, the latter of which secured them a place in the 2017-18 Champions League.
However, the Portuguese warned that United will no longer be one of the teams to beat in Europe's top-level competition, although he is hopeful of restoring them to that status by the time he eventually leaves Old Trafford.
"I would like the next manager to arrive - not now - but I would like the next manager to arrive and to find a much, much, much better club and team than I found at every level. I found an amazing club with an amazing history, but not ready for me to win. [I want to win] and I want the next one to win too," he told reporters.
"You know, we won three trophies and the Europa League was very difficult to win, but it is not the Champions League. We went to the Europa League as one of the top teams, we go to the Champions League and we are not one of the top teams. We have to be better, much better for that objective. So, you know, we cannot be just thinking that we won, like I say, two-and-a-half trophies, like we did last season.
"This season is going to be more difficult but I think we have also better conditions to fight for the Premier League against fantastic teams, against amazing investments. But I believe in our group, in our spirit, in our empathy, in our togetherness, in our happiness to be together, in our happiness to work together. I trust my boys and we are going to try."
United will get the chance to test themselves against one of Europe's elite when they face Barcelona in a pre-season friendly on Thursday morning.
Barney Corkhill
