Agencies
London/ New York
Manchester United is better equipped to fight for the Premier League title in the upcoming season but need to improve further to be a contender for the Champions League, manages Jose Mourinho has said.
In Mourinho's first season at Old Trafford, United won the League Cup and the Europa League but finished sixth in the English top flight, 24 points behind champions Chelsea.
"This season is going to be more difficult but I think we have better conditions to fight for the Premier League," Mourinho told the BBC, as quoted by Reuters. "I think this season we are a little bit better equipped. We are againts fantastic teams, againts amazing invesments.
"But I believe in our group, in our spirit, in our empathy, in our togetherness. I trust my boys and we are going to try."
Having lifted the Europa League in May, United secured direct entry to the Champions League group stage but the Portuguese manager believes it is still behind the continent's top clubs.
"We went to the Europa League as one of the top teams, we go to the Champions League and we are not one of the top teams," Mourinho added. "We have to be better, much better, for that objective. The base of everything is to find what I call a happy dressing room."
Mourinho has added striker Romelo Lukaku and centre back Victor Lindelof in the current transfer window but is still hoping to sign two more players ahead of the new season.
"One midfield player would give me more options. The other is an attacking player through the wings to give me more attacking options," he said.
The British Media have linked United with Chelsea's Nemanja Matic and Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier as midfield options. Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic is Mourinho's preferred choice to improve the attacking line, the reports have said.
United kick off its league campaign at home againts West Ham United on Aug. 13.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has confirmed Manchester City are "still looking" to add to their £200 million (US$260 million) summer spending spree, although he refused to comment on the possibility of hijacking Real Madrid's move for Kylian Mbappe.
City has been the major shoppers in the transfer market after splashing out a Premier League record total of £200 million to bring Benjamin Mendy, Bernardo Silva, Kyle Walker, Ederson, Danilo and Douglas Luiz to the Etihad.
But it remains likely that it will continue its haul after being strongly linked with moves for Arsenal frontman Alexis Sanchez and Monaco teenage striker Mbappe.
Mbappe has been on City's radar throughout the summer, although there have been strong suggestions in Spain that Real has agreed a fee of £160 million for the 18 year old.
Ahead of Wednesday's International Champions Cup encounter againts Real Madrid, in Los Angeles, Guardiola wasn't being drawn on either.
"They are Monaco and Arsenal players, so nothing to say," he said, as quoted by AFP.
But he did confirm that City was still looking at options in the market, albeit he was coy on whether another striker was on the agenda.
"The market finishes on Aug. 31, which is not good for the managers.
"The competition (Premier League) starts on the 12th (of August) and the market is still open. That is not good for all the clubs.
"We will see until the end of the transfer window,"
London/ New York
Manchester United is better equipped to fight for the Premier League title in the upcoming season but need to improve further to be a contender for the Champions League, manages Jose Mourinho has said.
In Mourinho's first season at Old Trafford, United won the League Cup and the Europa League but finished sixth in the English top flight, 24 points behind champions Chelsea.
"This season is going to be more difficult but I think we have better conditions to fight for the Premier League," Mourinho told the BBC, as quoted by Reuters. "I think this season we are a little bit better equipped. We are againts fantastic teams, againts amazing invesments.
"But I believe in our group, in our spirit, in our empathy, in our togetherness. I trust my boys and we are going to try."
Having lifted the Europa League in May, United secured direct entry to the Champions League group stage but the Portuguese manager believes it is still behind the continent's top clubs.
"We went to the Europa League as one of the top teams, we go to the Champions League and we are not one of the top teams," Mourinho added. "We have to be better, much better, for that objective. The base of everything is to find what I call a happy dressing room."
Mourinho has added striker Romelo Lukaku and centre back Victor Lindelof in the current transfer window but is still hoping to sign two more players ahead of the new season.
"One midfield player would give me more options. The other is an attacking player through the wings to give me more attacking options," he said.
The British Media have linked United with Chelsea's Nemanja Matic and Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier as midfield options. Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic is Mourinho's preferred choice to improve the attacking line, the reports have said.
United kick off its league campaign at home againts West Ham United on Aug. 13.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has confirmed Manchester City are "still looking" to add to their £200 million (US$260 million) summer spending spree, although he refused to comment on the possibility of hijacking Real Madrid's move for Kylian Mbappe.
City has been the major shoppers in the transfer market after splashing out a Premier League record total of £200 million to bring Benjamin Mendy, Bernardo Silva, Kyle Walker, Ederson, Danilo and Douglas Luiz to the Etihad.
But it remains likely that it will continue its haul after being strongly linked with moves for Arsenal frontman Alexis Sanchez and Monaco teenage striker Mbappe.
Mbappe has been on City's radar throughout the summer, although there have been strong suggestions in Spain that Real has agreed a fee of £160 million for the 18 year old.
Ahead of Wednesday's International Champions Cup encounter againts Real Madrid, in Los Angeles, Guardiola wasn't being drawn on either.
"They are Monaco and Arsenal players, so nothing to say," he said, as quoted by AFP.
But he did confirm that City was still looking at options in the market, albeit he was coy on whether another striker was on the agenda.
"The market finishes on Aug. 31, which is not good for the managers.
"The competition (Premier League) starts on the 12th (of August) and the market is still open. That is not good for all the clubs.
"We will see until the end of the transfer window,"
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