Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho feels his side are a candidate to win this seasons Premier League which begins away at Bournemouth on Sunday.

With the red devils bringing in four stellar signings this summer, the expectation is that they will be back fighting at the top of the league, ending three seasons of mediocrity under David Moyes and then Louis Van Gaal.

Ahead of the tie with the Cherries Mourinho said: “We feel that we are a candidate to win the title."

He added, “In this moment as Manchester United Football Club, we cannot speak differently. We are going to fight for the title.”

But with the Special One well aware that this seasons title run-in could be one of the mostly hotly contested ever, with Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea all strengthening as well as Tottenham and Leicester City both looking to reach similar heights that they achieved last season, Mourinho knows that a title triumph in his first season at United will take plenty of hard work.

He continued: “Professionalism. We are not here to have fun or enjoy the sunny weather, we are here to work and give everything for the club.”

Josh King helped the Cherries to a 2-1 win over United last season (photo source: telegraph.co.uk)

Tough tie on the south coast

It is fair to say that the red devils could have chosen an easier opponent to begin the new season against, as they visit an impressive Bournemouth side who will be resilient under Eddie Howe, a side which beat United in this fixture last season.

Mourinho admits that his side will be taking nothing for granted and anticipates a difficult afternoon down on the south coast.

The United boss said: “They have the same manager and the same players who came from the Championship together and didn’t change the way they play."

He conclued, “It is a good stable team and they will make a difficult match for us.”

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About the author
Ben Strange
Sports journalism at Southampton Solent University