Jose Mourinho reacts to Manchester United’s 0-0 draw at Etihad

Jose Mourinho says he has turned Manchester United players into warriors capable of challenging for the Premier League title next season.

United stretched their unbeaten Premier League run to 24 games – equalling their club record from 2010-11 – with a battling 0-0 draw at local rivals Manchester City on Thursday.

Mourinho claimed he inherited from Louis van Gaal a squad low on happiness, belief and trust, but said he has restored those qualities and now has a squad capable of “big things” next term.

"The group was a nice group,” said Mourinho. “Good people, good boys, committed people, so I think Mr van Gaal left here a good group of boys with very good relations between them, and that I got in my hands.

“I think they missed happiness, they missed trust, they missed belief, they missed this extra bit that brings resilience, brings you fight, and they have it.

“So the group, when we meet again on July 9 for next season, is a strong group and the new players, when they will arrive, will find a group more ready to go for big things.

“But the reality is that we are fighting to win the Europa League and we are fighting to try to finish fourth, so let's go."

Marouane Fellaini's straight red card for violent conduct for head-butting City striker Sergio Aguero has further restricted Mourinho's already depleted options in terms of available players.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Marcos Rojo, Juan Mata, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Timothy Fosu-Mensah are all injured, leaving Mourinho will just 14 fit outfield players for tomorrow's visit of Swansea to Old Trafford.

Mourinho admitted Fellaini's enforced absence for three games could see skipper Wayne Rooney come into central midfield, with Michael Carrick and Ander Herrera the only recognised available options there.

Pogba will not be available until Thursday's Europa League semi-final first-leg tie away to Celta Vigo, meaning Rooney, marginalised for much of what will be his final season at United, could be recalled in midfield.

"Yes, he's an option,” said Mourinho. “We don't have [any other players there]. We have Herrera, Carrick and nothing else. Fosu-Mensah is another one we will miss, so we're in trouble, but we'll fight, that's for sure.”

With so few midfield options, Mourinho denied he made a mistake in allowing Morgan Schneiderlin to leave United for Everton in January in a £20million deal, rising to £24m.

"It was our decision,” said Mourinho. “We didn't tell Morgan 'we want to sell you', Morgan asked and said 'please sell me, I want to go and play every game'.

“I think it must be unique in football, where we suffered two cruciate ligament injuries in the same match. In my career I had one cruciate injury in 17 years and now I have two.

“The other small injuries, Pogba, Antonio Valencia last week, are down to fatigue, which is normal. Smalling and Jones were with the English national team, in training.

“Maybe it's a blessing, an opportunity to make the team stronger. Maybe it's an opportunity to make them mentally stronger.

“I think the first one to come back is Mata, which will give us another option in attack, but in reality what we need now is one of the two centre-backs to be back.”

By Ben Ahenda 34 mins ago
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