MANCHESTER, England — Jose Mourinho insists Manchester United will not spend “crazy” money this summer in a bid to bridge the gap with Manchester City.
City clinched the Premier League title with five games to spare after United’s dismal 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
Mourinho said he will look to improve his squad, with sources telling ESPN FC he will look to bring in at least one central midfielder and a defender, but the coach is adamant there will not be huge changes ahead of next season.
“We are not going to spend more than we can. We are not going to do anything crazy,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.
“We are just trying to improve a little bit more. That’s what we are going to try.”
Michael Carrick intends to retire at the end of the season and there remain doubts over Marouane Fellaini’s future as he has yet to sign new contract.
There is interest from Italy in Matteo Darmian and Daley Blind, and sources have told ESPN FC that Anthony Martial will seek assurances about his role before restarting negotiations over a new deal.
Mourinho is set to sign a maximum of four new players, but the 55-year-old admitted another summer of heavy spending at the Etihad Stadium could keep the title out of reach.
“Everybody will try to improve, like we did from last season,” he said. “Last season we finished sixth and this season we are going to finish, hopefully, second.
“Next season, we are going to try to improve, but let’s see what happens. Maybe also City will invest massively and they don’t let the others close the gap to them. I don’t know.
“But it is not about us and them. It is about us and them and Liverpool and Arsenal and Chelsea and Spurs. It is not City and United. It is about the six.”
Mourinho believes Manchester United still face a fight to secure a top-four finish.
“We lost three points,” Mourinho said of the defeat to West Brom.
“We lost three points that could give us great stability for the second position.
“Now we still have the fourth position to fight for because Chelsea won [at Southampton on Saturday] and we lost, so we still have to fight for top four.”
Mourinho’s men are still alive in the FA Cup and will face Tottenham in Saturday’s semifinal.
He told MUTV: “Second position was not done before the game.
“It was not done even if we won, so losing — it’s even more important the next game.
“We know that we have to compete until the last week.
“It has been a long season, but we need to make sure we can compete until the end and keep that second position and we fight for being in another FA Cup final and try to win it.
“Plenty [to play for this season]. One trophy, FA Cup final. We all know how important it is and then get second in the league, which is not the ideal position, but it is a position we want to finish now.”
Press Association contributed to this report.
Rob is ESPN FC’s Manchester United correspondent. Follow him on Twitter @RobDawsonESPN.
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