Mourinho criticises Premier League scheduling

Matt Stead

Jose Mourinho has criticised the Premier League for not handing Manchester United more Monday fixtures.

United have played just one game on a Monday this season – the 0-0 draw with Liverpool in September.

Mourinho has hit out at such scheduling, which has seen his side play Europa League games on a Thursday, followed by a Premier League fixture on the Sunday.

United have struggled in games directly after playing in Europe, losing two, drawing two and winning just one.

Preparing for his side’s final Europa League group game against Zorya Luhansk on Thursday, Mourinho questioned why his side are not allowed to play more Monday games.

“We go in the same direction,” he said. “We assumed from the beginning that it was an important competition for us – difficult because we play Thursdays and then Sundays.

“We are never given a Monday match to have one more day to rest and prepare.

“It’s a difficult competition to play with the rest of the competitions. We want to try to win it. While we are in the competition we try to win it.

“We want to go to the knockout and go as far as possible step by step. The first step is a difficult one to qualify from a very difficult group.

“The most important competition is always the next match.

“Today I’m saying the most important competition is the Europa League, and after the match tomorrow it will be the Premier League.”