Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho admits his side have fallen behind Champions League heavyweights
There are several top clubs in Europe who remain firmly ahead of Manchester United, according to Mourinho, but they have an easier domestic league than the Premier League
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JOSE MOURINHO admits Manchester United have fallen behind the big boys in the Champions League.
The Portuguese believes there are at least four clubs on a different level to his side.
Mourinho said: “In the Champions League there are four or five teams with an incredible level of quality, experience and know-how that makes the difference.”
The quartet he has in mind are obviously Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus.
And although he believes last season’s finalists Real and Juve are helped by playing in less competitive leagues than the Prem, the lack of a winter break in England also hampers teams.
The Special One added: “Real last year played the last month in La Liga with the second team and they arrived at the final with a fresh team. Juve, because they were champions three months in advance, could play the last month with a second team and arrive fresh.
“For English teams, that’s impossible because normally the competition goes very strong until the end.
“In other countries there’s a winter break, which is cultural.
“Then there’s the fact we have to play many times two days before matches in Europe.
“Other countries protect their clubs.
“For example, Benfica played Friday in Portugal.
“In Italy they always do that, PSG played Friday and it’s the same in Spain, Germany.
“But no complaints. If we think the players are tired, we have to play with others.”
Despite all that, Mourinho would not change the relentless nature of the Premier League — especially the busy Christmas and New Year period.
He admitted: “I know it goes against us but I have to admit I love the English Christmas period of football.”
United have only missed out on European football in the 2014-15 season since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
And last term they went all the way in the Europa League, beating Ajax in May’s final.
Champions League football returns to Old Trafford tonight with Swiss side Basel in town.
Mourinho hopes to have Marouane Fellaini on the bench, although the Belgian aggravated a calf problem on international duty last week.
The United boss added: “He’s a very important player for me, much more important than you can imagine.
“I feel weaker without him in my squad, it doesn’t matter if he is in the team or on the bench.”
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David De Gea had to watch the Champions League on TV last season — and also missed the Europa League as Mourinho played Sergio Romero.
Keeper De Gea, 26, said: “A club like Manchester United not to be in those games, it was hard to watch — but now we are back.”
MAN UTD (likely): De Gea, Valencia, Lindelof, Smalling, Blind, Pogba, Matic, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Martial, Lukaku.