Jose Mourinho promises Manchester United supporters there are 'better years' to come

United won the EFL Cup and are in the Europa League semi-finals but have failed to contend in the title race this season and currently sit in fifth place in the league

Jose Mourinho believes he's on to something good with Manchester United (Getty)

Jose Mourinho believes that there are ‘better years to come’ for Manchester United after a relatively indifferent debut season as manager.

He also hinted that he intends to create a legacy at Manchester United, stating that ‘this can be the first season of the next five or six or seven’.

United have already won the Community Shield and EFL Cup this season, and with a Europa League semi-final against Celta Vigo next week, Mourinho could finish his first season with three trophies.

However, they have failed to contend in the title race this season and currently sit in fifth place in the league, outside the allotted Champions League places, despite a run of 23 games without defeat.

United travel to neighbours Manchester City on Thursday, a fixture which will go a long way in determining how Mourinho’s first season as boss will be viewed.

However, Mourinho said he is not overly concerned by titles at this stage and is instead focused on building for the future.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “It doesn't matter what happens in terms of titles we win or don't win. I always feel that the season is very important for me, the players and the club.

“I would say this can be the first season of the next five or six or seven. It can be the first season of better years.

“And the reality is even in the first season of better years we won already and we have already the chance to do good things until the end of the season.

“If we manage to win the Europa League and in August to play the European Super Cup against the Champions League winner, it will be magnificent.”

Mourinho likened this season to his first campaign at Real Madrid, during which he won one trophy. He went on to guide Madrid to the league title the following season, usurping Barcelona.

“I would say it's similar to the Real Madrid one because they were two giants in two difficult periods. You go to the giant club, you feel the dimension, you feel the pressure and you feel the expectation," he added.

“But you also feel the club is not ready, not ready for this kind of expectation and you have to work more.

“And then you have to fight more. So I would compare my arrival here to my arrival at Real Madrid. Chelsea was a different profile, Inter Milan a different profile. Porto a different profile as well.”