Jose Mourinho accepts that Manchester United's current form is not good enough, with his side facing the prospect of going five matches without a win.
Rafael Benitez's struggling Newcastle United visit Old Trafford in Saturday's evening kick-off, having failed to win themselves this season. United have only gone five games without victory once since 1999 - enduring an eight-game winless streak during Louis van Gaal's final season in charge.
When asked whether he accepts that United’s current form is not good enough, Mourinho said: “Yes, I accept [it is not good enough]."
Here's a round-up of what Jose Mourinho had to say:
Team news
Ashley Young is available, but United will be without Marcos Rojo, Ander Herrera and Jesse Lingard this weekend - with the latter yesterday left out of Gareth Southgate's England squad due to injury.
Are you doing all you can?
Well, there's no answer from Mourinho. Instead, that's it. He wraps up his press conference, and, clearly not a fan of the early start either, he didn't have an awful lot to say.
It was short, not so sweet and offered very little, but at least United have confirmed some team news for us...
Five winless games, not good enough?
"Yes, I accept (is not good enough)."
No wins at Old Trafford since first game of the season?
"Yeah, that's true. Only one defeat at home all season, only one defeat in the last seven matches but no victories at home in the past three matches. Three draws, it's not the feeling of defeat but it's not the happiness of the victory so yes it is important for us to try to win this match on Saturday."
Newcastle's threat?
"(They have a) very, very, very good coach, a team that is always very well organised against especially the teams of the first part of the table where their manager is very bright on his analysis of the opponent’s qualities and to try to stop them.
"The results they had against the top teams didn't get them points yet this season but gave them very, very close results and very difficult matches for the opposition. So we expect a difficult match."
Home record important?
"Very important, I know we are in the beginning of October and we look to tables all around Europe and in many of the leagues the tables in September, October doesn't reflect what is going to happen in a few months later or even in the end of the season.
"But we are in a position that we can do much better than that and to do that we need points, points that we lost especially in the last two Premier League matches with one point out of six and we know that to improve that position we need to win these three points, but we know that our opposition for different reasons also need they need points."
Why are things not working?
"For many different reasons."
Can you say the reasons?
"No."
Jose Mourinho is here!
And he's looking as happy as ever...
Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Jose Mourinho's press conference to preview Manchester United vs Newcastle United.
Mourinho has come under increasing pressure this week following last Saturday’s defeat at West Ham and the drab draw with Valencia on Tuesday night.
The United manager is expected to discuss his future, his post-Valencia comments and United's floundering hopes of a strong season.
Follow live updates from 8.30am...
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