Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has given an answer to club’s criticism that intensified after their Champions League defeat by La Liga side Sevilla.
"I understand the sadness of being knocked out in the Champions League, but I don't understand anything more than that.
"In the history of football all around the world, not just in England, you had the biggest clubs with the moments of transition, you have the biggest clubs with moments of continuous and permanent victories, and these are phases in the club.
"Looking to us in the Premier League we have one team, one club clearly better prepared than us in the past few years to be first and we have 18 clubs behind us. One in front of us, 18 behind us.
"Of course, in the future we want to have 19 clubs behind us but this is the reality, and the reality is for people with a brain, with common sense, with knowledge of what sports is, we are in a moment of transition,” Mourinho told CNN.
United are 16 points behind leaders Manchester City in the Premier League and the title could be decided in the Manchester derby at Etihad Stadium on 7 April.