Jose Mourinho has been downplaying Manchester United's chances in the Premier League before the season has even begun.

Fans of teams near the top of the Premier League will be hoping for a closer run title race in the 2018/19 season. Well, everyone apart from Manchester City fans anyway. Pep Guardiola's men ran away with the league last season and their rivals are going to have to step up. Liverpool has made a statement of intent by splashing the cash while Tottenham Hotspur will be hoping that it can find that final missing piece to turn the club into Premier League champions.

When it comes to Premier League rivals for Man City though it is hard to look past Manchester United. Even though City dominated proceedings last time out, United finished in second place. Jose Mourinho's men were a full nineteen points behind the side they share a city with and at the very least United fans will be hoping that the gap is closed significantly in 2018/19.

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If you have been listening to what Mourinho has had to say about the upcoming season then you likely haven't exactly been filled with hope. The Portuguese manager and his Red Devils are currently on a pre-season tour in the United States and the boss hasn't exactly had glowing things to say about his side's progression. Mourinho believes the absent players due to the World Cup will greatly affect how his side starts the season.

via skysports.com

"I don't have the majority of the players that are going to be in the squad on the 9th of August, when the (transfer) market closes and we can make the squad official for the season," Mourinho told Sky Sports during a press conference. A number of United's players made it to the latter stages of the World Cup which means they may not be available for selection when the season begins.

Mourinho and United aren't the only ones with absent World Cup players of course, but the Portuguese coach never misses an opportunity to play mind games. He went on to point out that Leicester City and Brighton, United's first two opponents, have barely any players suffering from World Cup hangovers. He even went as far as to say "I don't answer your question" when asked how he thinks United will do over the course of the entire season.

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