Jose Mourinho has admitted that it will be a big challenge for his side to rival Manchester City for the Premier League title next season.
City were the runaway Champions this season, finishing a huge 19 points ahead of Mourinho’s side, who ended the season on a high with a 1-0 victory over Watford yesterday afternoon.
Mourinho plans to take to the transfer market again this summer to bolster his squad in order to mount a challenge for City’s title – however the Portuguese admits it will be no mean feat to catch Pep Guardiola’s team next term.
“The difference in points tells us a lot,” conceded Jose. “I always think, in the championship, the truth is always there. In knock-out competitions, sometimes there’s a bad day or sometimes an unlucky or lucky moment.
“Sometimes the truth is not always there in cup competitions but, in the championship, with 38 or 40 matches, the reality is always the reality of the numbers.
“The reality of the numbers is that between the second and fifth team is eight points. The difference between first and second is 19 points. That’s the reality of the numbers. Can we close that gap in one season? With a very difficult market? An absolutely difficult market? We are going to try.”
Despite the gap between his side and City however, Mourinho said he was happy with his side’s achievements this season and winning the FA Cup this weekend will be the icing on the cake.
“Two things could happen to a club like us if we cannot be first. Either I’m not professional, I’m not committed and I have no pride or, the other way is to say this is the best position available and we have to go for it.
“It’s exactly what I told the players before the West Ham match on Thursday. Imagine if we need a point to be champions. Do we get that point or not? Everyone said, ‘We get that point.’
“So, if we would get that point to finish first, we get it to finish second. Based on professionalism, honesty and the pride we played for, we managed to finish second.
“It’s very positive, considering we can jump the wall of 80 points if we beat Watford.
“In the top domestic competitions in this country, we are at least the second best. We are second best in the Premier League and one of the two best in the FA Cup. Is it enough to celebrate? No, not for me. But we did our job the best we could and the boys can now think they did a positive thing.”