‘Improved Man City difficult to catch’

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho admitted his side have little chance of catching Premier League champions Manchester City next season unless the standards set by Pep Guardiola's side slip.

Second-placed United trail City by 16 points with four games of the league season to go after Guardiola's men kept up their chase of a series of Premier League records by thrashing Swansea 5-0 on Sunday.

Mourinho believes United let crucial points slip away in defeats to West Brom, Huddersfield and Newcastle.

However, the Portuguese coach reckons even if those errors are eradicated next season, it will be difficult to challenge for the title if free-spending City bolster their squad once more over the summer.

"I think we should have eight, nine or 10 points more than we had," said Mourinho after reaching the FA Cup final by beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on Saturday.

"It was not acceptable the last defeat (to West Brom), not acceptable the performance at Huddersfield, not acceptable the performance at Newcastle, so we lost a few matches where we should do better.

"Can we improve next season? Let's try. Can Manchester City keep this level or improve this level? Only they can say.

"If they have the team they have, and they are going to invest on the top of the team they have, of course it's going to be difficult."

United have spent hundreds of millions themselves since Mourinho took charge just under two years ago, splashing a then world record $ 89 million fee for Paul Pogba in 2016 and beating City to the signature of Alexis Sanchez in January by reportedly making the Chilean the highest paid player in Premier League history.

However, Mourinho hinted at only minor alterations to his squad this summer to replace the retiring Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini, whose contract expires in June.

"We are going to improve the basics to improve our squad. We need to find a replacement for Michal Carrick, if Felliani leaves, we need to find a replacement for Felliani," added Mourinho.

"We believe that more than spend, spend, spend (it) is more (about) the evolution of our players.

"We have some young players who need to get with both hands opportunities for their evolution."

‘No problems with Mourinho'

Paul Pogba insisted that he has no problems with Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho despite a difficult season which has seen the French star dropped on several occasions.

Pogba, who has even been linked with a summer move away from Old Trafford, said that he always accepts Mourinho's decisions and that the best response he can make to being snubbed is to improve on the pitch.

"I have no problem with Mourinho," Pogba told Canal+ on Sunday.

"I also believe that he has no problem with me. He is the coach, he makes the decisions. Me, I am a player, I accept it and I have to respond on the pitch, that's all."

Midfield star Pogba revealed that Mourinho never explains why he is getting dropped or substituted in a match.

"No, it all depends on the coach. There are some who like to talk to the players.

Mourinho, when he makes a choice, you have to accept it." Pogba has been in and out of the United team as Mourinho sought to chase down rivals Manchester City, who ran away with the Premier League title.

Eyebrows were raised when he started both legs of the Champions League last-16 tie against Sevilla on the bench, and could not prevent United from being eliminated when he did come on.

He was then widely criticised for a lacklustre display in a 1-0 home loss to West Bromwich Albion which handed the title to City — the latest in a long line of disappointing efforts from the former Juventus star since his move to United two years ago.

There was even talk that Mourinho has told United to put Pogba up for sale, just days after City manager Pep Guardiola said he had been offered the chance to sign the midfielder by his agent in January.

But Pogba said he understood Mourinho's decision to tinker with his line-up.