Jose Mourinho has a point – he has made Manchester United better despite their struggles
Stats prove rivals Manchester City are the only other top-six club to improve from last season
JOSE MOURINHO reckons he has been harshly treated this season - and the stats back him up.
The Old Trafford chief has come under fire after Manchester City raced into a 15-point lead in what was supposed to be a title race.
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But despite some poor performances, United and their cross-city rivals are the only sides in the top six to improve their points tally from last season after 20 matches.
And the Red Devils' haul is their best since the 2012-13 campaign - which saw Alex Ferguson bow out with one final league title.
These figures support Mourinho's argument that United are heading in the right direction under his stewardship.
While watching City stroll towards a title must be frustrating - and £300million is not pocket change - Old Trafford fans have more to cheer than the other pretenders.
Champions Chelsea have gone backwards despite a significant summer spend of their own.
Tottenham lacked ambition in the transfer market despite keeping most of their best players and have failed to improve as a result.
SLOW MACHO Jose Mourinho fears Romelu Lukaku has lost pace after the Manchester United striker bulked up
Liverpool landed the deal of the summer in Mohamed Salah but the same defensive issues have halted their charge - no pressure Virgil van Dijk.
And Arsenal - who seem content with mediocrity - may struggle to achieve even that if Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil leave.
The only issue for the Special One, then, is to get one over old foe Pep Guardiola, who is assembling arguably the strongest Premier League side ever.
Best dig out the cheque book.