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SCMP Reporter

Jose Mourinho says the Premier League and Football Association must shoulder some of the blame for English clubs’ underachievements in European competitions this season.
Manchester United were drawn on Friday to face Anderlecht in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, and manager Mourinho claimed the domestic fixture schedule is harming his side’s chances.
“I think they don’t give an ‘s’ about the English teams in Europe,” he said. “They simply don’t care. There are other interests that are more important.
“Every country, they try to do that little support to the teams in European football, but here it’s difficult.”

There are only two English sides left in Europe, with Leicester drawn against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Mourinho believes there could have been more English teams still involved if the Premier League and the FA gave teams more time to prepare for and recover from European fixtures.
Jose Mourinho decries ‘enemies’ after Pogba blow during Europa League win over Rostov
“My time in Italy, they decided when clubs got to the knockout stages of the Europa League and Champions League, the week before, if they play Tuesday or Wednesday, they play on the Friday,” he added.
“In Portugal, every team that plays in Europe, they play on the next Monday. So every country’s doing that. Germany’s doing that.

“It makes no sense [not to do it]. It’s just a little bit of common sense, if they want, or if they’re happy that we have one English club in the Europa League and one English club in the Champions League. I think we are good enough to have more.”
Mourinho was frustrated that United’s Europa League last-16 second leg against Rostov this week was sandwiched between an FA Cup quarter-final at Chelsea on Monday and a midday league game at Middlesbrough on Sunday.
Champions League draw pits Real Madrid against Bayern Munich in quarter-finals as Leicester face Atletico
At one point in the second half at Old Trafford, he even peeled a banana on the touchline and had it passed onto the pitch for a fatigued Marcos Rojo to eat.
“We should be the last team to play in the weekend,” he said. “It’s as simple as that. We should play Monday or the last match on Sunday, not 12 o’clock.

“At least let us sleep a little bit on Sunday. We cannot even sleep on Sunday morning. We have to wake up at seven o’clock to eat and to come to the game.”
United have now played 11 games in just over six weeks, with Paul Pogba out for three weeks after injuring a hamstring against Rostov.
Jose Mourinho reminds Chelsea fans of titles he won them – ‘Judas is number one’
“Of course it was accumulation of fatigue. That’s obvious,” said Mourinho. “He was already feeling his hamstring in the first half. In the second half immediately he felt he couldn’t carry on, so even a physical monster like him felt it. Paul is paying the price.
“But in Rostov when I was speaking with the [Uefa] delegate about the conditions of the stadium, he was telling me, ‘If a player gets injured, no problem, because they have insurance.’
“I think in England it’s also a little bit of the same. ‘He gets millions, let him run. If he breaks, he breaks. He’s insured. No problem.’”


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English Premier League

Manchester United draw Anderlecht as Jose Mourinho says Premier League ‘don’t give an “S”’

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho peels a banana on the touchline before getting it to a tired Marcos Rojo to eat. Photo: EPA

epaselect epa05853269 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho reacts during the UEFA Europa League round of 16, second leg soccer match between Manchester United and FK Rostov at Old Trafford in Manchester, Britain, 16 March 2017. EPA/PETER POWELL

Britain Football Soccer - Manchester United v FC Rostov - Europa League Round of 16 Second Leg - Old Trafford, Manchester, England - 16/3/17 Manchester United's Paul Pogba walks off to be substituted after sustaining an injury as manager Jose Mourinho looks on Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff Livepic

epa05853987 Former Swedish soccer player Patrik Andersson, and ambassador for the UEFA Europa League final in Stockholm, shows a ticket with British soccer team Manchester United during the quarter-final draw of the UEFA Europa League 2016/17, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, 17 March 2017. Manchester United will face RSC Anderlecht in the quarter-finals. EPA/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

Jose Mourinho decries ‘enemies’ after Pogba blow during Europa League win over Rostov

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has hit out at ‘enemies’ following the Uefa Europa League win over Rostov. Photo: EPA

Rostov's Christian Noboa, left, shoots a free kick in the last seconds of the Europa League round of 16, second leg, soccer match between Manchester United and FC Rostov at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, England, Thursday March 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

epa05853281 Rostov's Cristian Noboa (L) takes a free kick in the last minute of the UEFA Europa League round of 16, second leg soccer match between Manchester United and FK Rostov at Old Trafford in Manchester, Britain, 16 March 2017. ManU won 2-1 on aggregate. EPA/PETER POWELL

United's Paul Pogba sits on the ground after getting injured during the Europa League round of 16, second leg, soccer match between Manchester United and FC Rostov at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, England, Thursday March 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Britain Football Soccer - Manchester United v FC Rostov - Europa League Round of 16 Second Leg - Old Trafford, Manchester, England - 16/3/17 Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic attempts an overhead kick Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff Livepic

Sport

Football

Manager hits out over fixture scheduling again with his side set to face Belgian club in the Europa League quarter-finals


Manchester United draw Anderlecht as Jose Mourinho says Premier League ‘don’t give an “S”’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Manager hits out over fixture scheduling again with his side set to face Belgian club in the Europa League quarter-finals

Manager hits out over fixture scheduling again with his side set to face Belgian club in the Europa League quarter-finals