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Jose Mourinho: Man City have fixture advantage over Man United

Jose Mourinho insists Manchester City have been handed an advantage over Manchester United by the festive fixture schedule.

United are in the middle of a run of four games in 10 days over Christmas and new year and have just six rest days between Dec. 23 and Jan. 1.

Mourinho's team trained at Old Trafford on Christmas Day to prepare for Burnley's visit on Boxing Day. City, meanwhile, have seven days rest over the same period and face Newcastle on Wednesday rather than on Boxing Day.

"I'm not just talking about the privileged runs with six days to recover and enjoy and to prepare but ones with a little bit more than us," Mourinho told Sky Sports. "For example the ones with a little bit more rest, like one day day.

"The extra day means a lot because it means they aren't working [on Christmas Day], means they can be back to work [on Tuesday] and be ready for the next day. The problem I see here is the difference between some teams."

United fell 13 points behind City in the title race following their 2-2 draw with Leicester at the King Power Stadium on Saturday. But Mourinho insists he will settle for a repeat performance against Burnley as long as his forwards are more clinical.

Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford all missed good chances against Leicester, allowing Harry Maguire to snatch an equaliser in stoppage time.

"I hope we play so well as we did against Leicester because in 10 matches we play so well and create so many chances as we did, in nine matches we would win three or 4-0," Mourinho added. "In one match what happened was what we call unpredictable football.

"That happened to us but I don't think it happens many times when we play so well. In this case we played so well and so creative and create so many chances, but of course in football you have to score the goals and take the chances."

Mourinho is set to again be without Eric Bailly, Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick against Burnley, while Chris Smalling is an injury doubt after picking up a groin problem against Leicester.