Jose Mourinho insists he only has himself to blame for not being afforded the respect given to managerial rivals such as Arsene Wenger -- because his record as a manager is just too good.
Manchester United manager Mourinho goes into Saturday's Premier League encounter with Arsenal at Old Trafford having claimed that Wenger is given greater respect, despite having an inferior record in terms of major trophies.
But having won the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan, as well as winning domestic titles in four countries, Mourinho believes he has to accept being judged to a higher standard than the majority of his contemporaries.
"I don't explain [why this is the case]," Mourinho said. "Maybe it's my fault. Maybe -- 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 always won in the first or second season, so nobody here is saying 'OK let's see if he can win with United at the third season.'
"Nobody is saying that. Nobody is saying that. Nobody says I deserve time, that I deserve credibility, or 'that's not a bad result that affects the credibility of somebody with 23 titles in four different countries.'
"That's just that. Maybe that's just my fault.
"I'm not even against you or upset with the pundits that are being every critical. Maybe I should be proud of it because maybe it's my fault. Maybe it's my fault."
United face Arsenal with Mourinho having never lost a Premier League encounter with Wenger during his time at Chelsea.
The Portuguese has lost just once in 15 games against the Frenchman, but with United already six points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal in the Premier League, Mourinho insists that Saturday's game is a must-win.
"At Man United, we want to win every game," Mourinho said. "We don't [do it], but we want.
"If we play as well as we did against Stoke and Burnley I don't think another miracle with happen -- the miracle being that we didn't win.
"If we manage to play so well, we have a big chance of winning. But in football sometimes the result is something that is out of your control.
"The only thing I can say is the mentality is good, the players are ready. They want to play. Everybody wants to play.
"Arsenal, like every one of the top teams, is a motivation. But we are a motivation for them. I believe that Arsenal player wants to come, wants to play, wants to win. So, that's the Premier League."