Jose Mourinho changes Manchester United's targets but contradicts top-four 'miracle' claim

Mourinho claimed the 'miracle' comment did not reflect his true feelings

Jose Mourinho has denied that Manchester United need a miracle to finish in the top four this season, though has revised his side's targets for the end of the year.

Mourinho did not deny telling Brazilian outlet RedeTV that would need "almost a miracle" to qualify for next season's Champions League.

However, he claimed that those words did not reflect his true feelings, even if he has had to revise his "hopes and targets" for the remainder of 2018.

A fortnight ago, Mourinho said he hoped United would be fourth or higher before the end of December, though he now only hopes to get 'as close as possible'.

"I don't know if I say or if I didn't but if I used that word is not what I feel at all," he said, regarding the 'miracle' comment.

"We have like eight or nine points from fourth something like that, I don't think we need a miracle at all. We need a good run of results, not waste points we shouldn't waste.

"Last week before Crystal Palace game, I told my hopes and targets were end of December to be in that position.

"The target changed but in the sense let's try to close the distance best we can and be very close to these positions.

"I think far from a miracle, we just need to not be so unlucky with problems that we have, we need some players to perform better than they are we need to perform better as a team but far from a miracle."