Football
ESPN staff 7y

Jose Mourinho: Premier League does not care about Europe

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said the Premier League "does not give an S" about the fixture congestion facing clubs competing in European competition.

Mourinho is angry that his team play at Middlesbrough at noon on Sunday, soon after their Europa League win against FC Rostov at Old Trafford on Thursday night.

Speaking at a news conference, he said football governing bodies in "every" other country tried to help clubs in Europe in the way they scheduled domestic fixtures.

And he said United's situation was far tougher than any of their rivals near the top of the table with Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City now out of European football this season.

"We played 11 matches in the last six weeks and it's going to get worse," Mourinho said.

"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. Every [other] country, they try to help, to give support to the teams in European football."

He said that during his time as Inter Milan coach "it was decided that when the clubs go to the knockout stages of the Europa League and the Champions League, they play [league games] on the previous Friday."

Mourinho added: "Without them [the clubs in European competition] and their money, the Premier League wouldn't be the Premier League -- the clubs would not be so rich."

Speaking to BT Sport after the Rostov match, he claimed United "have a lot of enemies."

"It's difficult to play Monday with 10 men, it's difficult to play now, it's difficult to play 12 o'clock on Sunday," he said.

"A lot of people might say we should have scored more goals. But a lot of things are going against us. The boys are amazing boys.

"We will probably lose the game on Sunday [at Middlesbrough]. Fatigue has a price."

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