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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>United finished 19 points behind City in 2017-18</li><li>Mourinho still insists it's one of his best achievements</li><li>Jokes City could be docked points after trial</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Jose Mourinho incredibly suggests Man Utd could be handed 2017-18 Premier League crown if Man City are found guilty in 115-charge FFP trial as he stands by infamous best achievement claim

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Mourinho was initially appointed United boss in 2016, and delivered a Europa League and Carabao Cup double in his first campaign before guiding the team to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/jose-mourinho-unfinished-business-man-utd-right-man-kick-off-sir-jim-ratcliffe-era/blt893a3cb22e1b85ee" target="_blank">second in the Premier League table</a> the following season - their best finish since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure. Results took a turn for the worse in the first half of the 2018-19 season and Mourinho was sacked, but the former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss has since insisted that he ranks finishing second in the Premier League with United among his best achievements, a statement he stands by to this day.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Mourinho reiterated that stance during a sit-down with Rio Ferdinand and Stephen Howson for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A17XoJAh7U" target="_blank">FIVE</a>, despite the fact United were still 19 points behind eventual champions City at the end of the season in question. Incredibly, the Portuguese then joked Pep Guardiola's side could see their total reduced as he referenced the fact City are set to go on trial for <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/why-man-city-relegated-115-ffp-breaches-premier-league-kill-transfer-market-warning/blta01455b20a731fb9" target="_blank">allegedly breaching 115 FFP rules</a>."Maybe there is a chance we win that league, no?" Mourinho, <a href="https://www.football.com/welcome/" target="_blank">Football.com</a> global ambassador, said when Ferdinand challenged him on his remarks. "Because if Manchester City is caught in financial fair play breaking the rules, maybe they lose a few points and we win that title."<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="362" src="https://youtube.com/embed/2A17XoJAh7U" title="YouTube video player" width="644"></iframe>

WHAT MOURINHO SAID

By the end of his spell at Old Trafford, Mourinho had lost the faith of a large section of the fanbase and alienated several players by criticising them in public, and there were some who suggested his pragmatic style of play was never a good fit for United. However, the 61-year-old looks back on his time in Manchester fondly, and still feels a connection with supporters. "I loved my time there," he said. "I was so proud of going there, and even prouder a couple of years later going back as a Sky commentator and when I felt the reaction of the crowd I was like 'wow'. I always felt we were together and that reaction touched me. To be a coach in the same club as Sir Alex, you have to feel the pride and responsibility. Historical club, legendary players, I was very happy and proud to be there. Not easy, I don't think media helped me, including yourself maybe, I felt that was not with an intention of hurting, it was more people didn't understand the dimension of the job and potential difficulties. The structure was not very fluid."Mourinho went on to defend United's much-maligned former executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, instead <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/jose-mourinho-man-utd-erik-ten-hag-receives-warning/bltb536d4ce6bd434eb" target="_blank">pointing the finger of blame at the Glazer family</a> for the chaotic state of the club behind the scenes. "I don't like when people criticise Ed Woodward's job, because he's a good man, very intelligent, very polite, very correct, but probably not prepared for the sports side of it," he added. "For a coach not to have a direct communication with the ownership, and not have a structure that shares the same principle and ideas was not easy, with consequences at many levels. But I did my best."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Some six years on from Mourinho's departure, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/erik-ten-hag-delusional-man-utd-beat-anyone-odd-bunch-way-off-top-side/blt9c1f54f0559e72a5" target="_blank">United are still in disarray</a>, and currently sit sixth in the Premier League table. City are 11 points ahead of them with a game in hand, and favourites to lift the title for a fourth successive year, though the upcoming FFP trial is still casting a shadow over Etihad Stadium. According to the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12809173/Man-City-Premier-League-agree-date-tribunal-financial-rule-break-charges.html" target="_blank">Daily Mail</a>, the trial is set to begin in Autumn this year, and will be settled by an independent panel.All three parts of Jose Mourinho's interview will be available on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPAiS32go3-GwTO0kmlVX7g" target="_blank">FIVE’s YouTube</a>. The full interview with Mourinho will also be available on <a href="https://twitter.com/FIVEUK" target="_blank">@FIVEUK’s</a> audio platforms, Spotify, Apple and Google Podcasts.

WHAT NEXT FOR UNITED AND CITY?

Jose Mourinho incredibly suggests Man Utd could be handed 2017-18 Premier League crown if Man City are found guilty in 115-charge FFP trial as he stands by infamous best achievement claim | Goal.com Uganda

Jose Mourinho has joked Manchester United might be handed the 2017-18 Premier League title if Manchester City are found guilty of breaching FFP rules.