Manchester United will target title - Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has declared that his aim this season is to win the Premier League title with Manchester United.

United have not been crowned champions since Sir Alex Ferguson’s last season in charge in 2012/13, and Mourinho is determined to bring the glory days back to Old Trafford.

The Portuguese, who has taken over the reins from Louis van Gaal, does not want to settle for a top-four finish – as some of his rivals have stated – as he believes a club like United should not be afraid to have bold ambitions as they prepare to embark on a new campaign.

Mourinho, who has splashed the cash to strengthen his squad this summer, said: “We feel that we are a candidate to win the title. We know that others have the same ambitions as us.

“If, at the end of the season, somebody who is champion has been better than us, then great – that is football. In this moment as Manchester United football club, we cannot speak differently. We are going to fight for the title.

“Many more think the same way as us but they are afraid to say it. They prefer not to, and prefer to play a defensive game in words. They prefer to say, or to hide, or play with the words, defensively. That’s not our way. I don’t think that’s Manchester United.

“We have to say we want to win the title, with all the respect for the others, and maybe we don’t win. Maybe we arrive at the end and be happy we finish in the top four.”

United open the season with a trip to Bournemouth on Sunday – new signing Paul Pogba will miss the match as he is suspended – and Mourinho does not expect an easy afternoon against Eddie Howe’s side.

“Stability. Same players, same manager, year after year,” he said when asked about the Cherries.

“They didn’t change their style, they believe in the way they play football, and they bring in three or four new players to improve them. For sure it is a difficult match for us.”