Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has suggested that the barrage of early criticism early into his Old Trafford reign is perhaps his own fault because of the incredibly bar he set for himself by his winning record and trophy collection from previous clubs.
"Maybe it's my fault. Maybe I put the level so high, that people don't expect different than that," Mourinho said as he faced the media ahead of Saturday's clash with Arsenal at Old Trafford.
"I won at every club, I was champion in every club, I won cups with every club. I won in every country, I won in four different countries. I won in Europe, I won in domestic competitions."
Mourinho enjoyed success at Porto, Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid before he arrived at United, winning league titles with all his former clubs, as well as the Champions League with two of them.
"I won always in the first or second season, so nobody here is saying 'OK, let's see if he can win with Man United at the third season'," he added.
"Nobody says I deserve time, that I deserve credibility, that it's not a bad result that affects the credibility of somebody with 23 titles in four different countries. That's just that.
"Maybe it's my fault, so I'm not even against [journalists] or upset with the pundits that are being critical. Maybe I should be proud of it, because maybe it's my fault."
United have struggled for consistency this season, enjoying a handful of good wins but being equally of poor performances on a number of occasions.
Here we go! #MUNARS pic.twitter.com/zeQY88fmJP
Mourinho's side comfortably won their last outing against Swansea to get over a Europa League defeat at the hands of Fenerbahce, and now face Arsenal, against whom they can boast a good recent record. Mourinho has also not lost against Gunners bossArsene Wenger in 11 previous league meetings.
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