EPL: Fixtures pile up scares Mourinho

EPL: Fixtures pile up scares Mourinho

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho expressed concern on Wednesday that the Premier League ’ s fixture planners could ruin his side’ s top - four hopes if they reach the League Cup final .
United carry a 2 - 0 lead into Thursday ’ s League Cup semi - final second leg at Hull City and will face either Liverpool or Southampton at Wembley on February 26 if they progress .
If they do reach the final , the derby fixture with Manchester City scheduled for that weekend will be moved and Mourinho is concerned television demands could see it rearranged for an inconvenient time .
“ For the match against Manchester City , I am sure they will choose an amazing moment , difficult for us , to make us play against them, ” Mourinho told his pre - match press conference at United’ s training base .
“ Then there is the Europa League . The Europa League is a non - stop competition . The Champions League has the last 16 . In the Europa League , you have to play last 32 , last 16 .
“ If we progress , it’ s going to be really difficult , but let’ s see . ”
With the club going strong in four competitions , they could end up playing 66 games by the end of the season and that does not include possible FA Cup replays .
That would take United close to the all- time record for an English club in one season , held by Arsenal, who played 70 competitive matches during the 1979 - 80 campaign .
United are sixth in the Premier League , 14 points below leaders Chelsea, and host second - tier Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday .
– Ferguson support –
Asked if United could win four competitions , Mourinho said : “ I don ’ t know . I really don ’ t know . I know it’ s going to be hard if we go step by step . It’ s if , if , if . We go to the field of the ifs .
“ At this moment, we have a 25 percent chance to win the EFL ( League) Cup , which is the first competition to be decided . ”
Mourinho , who celebrates his 54 th birthday on Thursday , attended his press conference with a new cropped haircut .
But he laughed off claims it was a sign he is gearing up for the business end of the season .
“ No . The haircut is a privilege, ” he said . “ I can do it and in one month I have a new wig . It’ s just a privilege that some of you can ’ t do it. ”
Mourinho received praise from former United manager Alex Ferguson in an interview with the BBC on Tuesday .
Ferguson believes United are playing well because Mourinho has calmed down .
“ The support I feel is the support I have always felt with him , except when I was a direct competitor and playing against his teams . But I always felt this kind of support, ” Mourinho said .
“ I felt the same when I was abroad in Italy and Spain . Friends wishing good to each other , supporting each other by a simple SMS that can mean a lot in a certain moment .
“ He is very respectful too. He doesn ’ t want to be around . He doesn ’ t want to come many times . I think he feels completely free. I told him this is his house always and forever .
“ Just a couple of times he travelled with us on the bus and the train . He visited us once. We know that this is his club and his life and that he is supporting us . ”

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