Manchester United news: Jose Mourinho defends his attacking style of football and says he is ‘very happy’ with team progression despite Premier League struggles
JOSE MOURINHO has revealed he will not change the attacking footballing philosophy he has brought to Manchester United - despite slipping further behind in the Premier League title race.
The Portuguese has his Red Devils side purring in cup competitions, but struggling in the league as lack of goals means his side have drawn four out of the last five league matches despite utter dominance.
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In previous successful Premier League campaigns at Chelsea, Mourinho set up his side defensively and 1-0 wins with a tight defence became the norm.
But ahead of their clash with Tottenham on Sunday, who sit in fifth place, one place but six points ahead of United, the Special One has defiantly refused to pack in his new free-flowing philosophy - and says he is "very happy" with the evolution of the team, despite being 13 points off leaders Chelsea.
He told Sky Sports News: "I don’t think about the gap, just the evolution of the team. The dominance, quality and beauty of our football, we are not a team that defends and waits for opponent’s mistake.
"I know how to build these teams, but it was not our choice, not something fans, owners or I want - we are going in a different direction and we are not going to change.
"I am used to different results, but I am used to a different profile of the team, who are very efficient, scoring one goal and not conceding.
";I am just a bit disappointed with that as I see teams in the Premier League who are not comparable in our quality, but they have more points than us."
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Rather than being frustrated by late equalisers against his team, glaring chances missed by his misfiring strikers or opposition goalkeepers having brilliant games, Mourinho believes it is "unfair".
He added: "I am very happy with the evolution of the team. When you play very well you can expect good things to arrive. No frustration, just hope.
"I find it unfair, and we should have a lot more points than we should have. It looks like there are more teams that are better than us, but it is not true.
"So many draws we deserved wins. If we could transform draws to wins we would be in the top four. It’s unfair but there is only one way, to keep working."
Far from doubting himself, the famously self-confident Mourinho thinks it is easier to take playing well and not winning, that playing poorly - despite conceding from costly mistakes, such as Marouane Fellaini's challenge which saw Everton equalise from the penalty spot in their last league game.
He said: "I have had teams with bad results and bad performances, and it is much more difficult as you are not sure of what you want.
"You have doubts, you question yourself, do you need to change to play better? This time it is easier, we have no doubts. We are happy in the way we play.
"I tell the players to relax and it will come. But you always have something more to give, a bit more concentration, try and reduce minimal mistakes as right now we are being punished by it.
"We are not losing, which is building momentum; we feel we are better than opponents, and I am totally convinced we will turn it around - it could happen Sunday."
Mourinho's United face a strong Spurs side at Old Trafford with players such as Eric Bailly returning from injury - and he believes Mauricio Pochettino's men will play with an attacking freedom similar to United's, rather than other teams who have sat back in recent games.
He said: "It is a very difficult game on Sunday, a very good team - possibly the first time we play for a few weeks against a team who will fight with us, as the others accepted our dominance.
"Tottenham played phenomenal first half against Chelsea, they are a very good team, and Pochettino is a very good manager, he knows what he wants.
"We landed at 4am from Ukraine, and at 10am we were back in. It is what we do, that is football, and we are building momentum."