Excuses starting to wear thin as Jose Mourinho plays the poor mouth

Mourinho must beware of lowering expectations again

Last season, Jose Mourinho was able to lower Manchester United’s Premier League ambitions successfully through excellence in the cup competitions, thus allowing a sixth-placed league finish to be excused.

This season, Mourinho has attempted the same trick. In July and August he talked about competing for the title, but Man City have a chance on Wednesday to move 15 points clear after 20 matches played.