Manchester United's Jose Mourinho 'would go on holiday' if he thought Premier League title race was over

Man Utd via Getty Images
Tom Doyle13 December 2017

Jose Mourinho insists Manchester United are still in the Premier League title race, and would "go on holiday to Brazil or Los Angeles" if he thought the race was already over.

Romelu Lukaku got a much-needed goal as United moved on from their galling Manchester derby defeat by beating Bournemouth 1-0 at a rain-soaked Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

Runaway Premier League leaders Man City brought an untimely end to United's club record-equalling 40-match unbeaten home run on Sunday, when Pep Guardiola's men opened up an 11-point cushion over their second-place rivals.

Jose Mourinho's Reds rallied after that potentially season-defining defeat by securing a hard-fought win at home to Bournemouth through Lukaku's first-half header.

In Pictures | Premier League gameweek 17 | 13/12/2017

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The win keeps United 11 points behind City after 17 games, but Mourinho denies that the title race is done and dusted - despite Guardiola's men setting a new Premier League record of 15 consecutive wins.

Speaking to BBC's Match of the Day after the game, Mourinho said of United's title chances: "I said we play match after match and the next we have to try to win, we have a difficult one at West Brom and we try match after match.

"It is only over in May, if it is over now I go on holiday to Brazil or Los Angeles."

Mourinho was pleased United bounced back from their derby disappointment, even if they were below their best against Bournemouth.

"The City game was a big one, and a defeat does not help in your recovery - victories help, defeats don't," he added.

"Bournemouth were difficult opponents and difficult conditions. If we had scored the second it would have been a calm night for us.

"I am pleased with the three points. They had one more day's rest than us, they were fresher than us, and mentally fresher because a big match takes more from our players."