Manchester United news: Jose Mourinho claims he is restoring club's DNA despite poor start

United are on a run of four consective home draws

Jack Austin
Sunday 04 December 2016 09:43 EST
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Mourinho could find his team 11 points off a Champions League position by the end of the weekend
Mourinho could find his team 11 points off a Champions League position by the end of the weekend (Getty)

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Jose Mourinho has defended Manchester United’s start to the season and insists he is in the process of restoring the club’s DNA.

Ahead of Sunday’s game with Everton, United have only won once in the Premier League since September and are on a run of four consecutive home draws, leaving them in seventh place, 14 points off league leaders Chelsea and 10 from the Champions League places.

United cruised into the semi-finals of the League Cup on Wednesday, a tournament Mourinho loves having lifted the trophy four times (one less than United in their entire history), while their Europa League form has been indifferent.

But the former Chelsea boss has said he is trying to get his side to adapt to his way of playing, rather than the possession-based philosophy predecessor Louis van Gaal adopted.

"I only care about the way we play ... keep the faith in the way we are playing and try to have better results, and let's see where that ends," Mourinho said.

"I am here to build the future, and build the future with a certain DNA, with a certain style. It is one of the items [of the job], but there are others, and some other items are also related to football results, objectives and targets.

"So I would not be just happy with that. I demand a lot from myself, I demand a lot from the people that work with me, I demand a lot from the players, and I like the clubs to demand a lot from myself, too. So I cannot say that I would be just happy with that item. I want more.

"We play now in between the opponents' lines. We look forward, our defensive line is very high. Our central defenders don't follow the man, they defend zonal.

"There are different styles of playing football. We try to follow our style. I have never had a team with so much ball possession. I have never had a team with so much control of a game by having the ball. I have never had a team that creates so many chances.

"If we manage to have all of those with some more pragmatism in front of the goal and in a defensive process, then we will be very, very good."

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