Saturday 18 March 2017 07:29, UK
Jose Mourinho has called on the Premier League to change domestic fixture schedules for clubs involved in European competition.
The Manchester United boss insists it is unfair his team play at Middlesbrough at noon on Sunday, having faced FC Rostov in the Europa League on Thursday evening.
Mourinho claims United's fixture list hands their domestic rivals an advantage over them.
Leaders Chelsea have not been involved in European action this season and the four other teams above United in the table - Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool - have all been eliminated and have played fewer matches this season.
"It's more difficult. We played 11 matches in the last six weeks and it's going to get worse," Mourinho said.
"It's going to get easier for the other five teams because before it was only Chelsea and Liverpool and now Arsenal, Tottenham and City are also out.
"I don't understand how we don't have any help in relation to European football. I've said this for many years.
"I think they don't give an S about the English teams in Europe. They simply don't care. [In] every [other] country they try to help.
"Without them and their money, the Premier League wouldn't be the Premier League - the clubs wouldn't be so rich.
"Yes, we have to tell them 'thank you so much for the Premier League you are building'. But I think you can do that and have a little finger, a little touch."
The former Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss added: "In my time in Italy, it was decided that when the clubs go to the knockout stages of Europa League and Champions League, they play [domestic matches] on the [previous] Friday.
"In Portugal, if they play in Europe then they play on the following Monday. Germany is also doing that.
"We should be the last team to play in the weekend. We should play Monday. Or we should play Sunday the last match - not 12 o'clock.
"If they are happy that we have one English club in the Europa League and one English club in the Champions League: wow."
Mourinho also believes United's fixture pile-up contributed to Paul Pogba picking up a hamstring injury against Rostov and that Marcos Rojo was seen being handed a banana to eat during the game because the Argentine was "at the limit".
"Of course it was an accumulation of fatigue," Mourinho said. "He [Pogba] felt he couldn't carry on. Even a physical monster like him felt it."
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