Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has aimed a sly dig at Tottenham and Liverpool by stating that winning the Europa League is better than finishing in their league positions.
The Portuguese masterminded his team to a 2-0 victory against Dutch outfit Ajax on Wednesday night in the Europa League final in Stockholm.
As a result of that triumph, United, who finished outside of the top four this season, secured their place in next season’s Champions League.
Spurs finished the 2016/17 Premier League campaign as runners-up, with Manchester City securing third and Liverpool claiming fourth.
Despite the trio securing Champions League places, they all failed to win a trophy, with United winning the double added with their League Cup win earlier on in the season.
Mourinho, who is known for his mind games, couldn’t help but send this message to his rivals after his side had lifted the Europa League trophy.
“It’s the end of a very difficult season but I think a very, very good season,” Mourinho told BT Sports as posted on their official Twitter account. “We prefer this way, than finish fourth, than finish third, than finish second, we prefer this way.
“We got the objective of going back to Champions League but winning a title. An important title.”
"This is better than finishing fourth, third, second."
We wonder who José Mourinho could be talking about… ? pic.twitter.com/759x3wis7s
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 24, 2017
United finished the Premier League season in sixth position on 69 points from their 38 league matches, seven points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.
England could have up to five teams representing them in next season’s Champions League, with Jurgen Klopp’s side not yet guaranteed a place in the group stages.
The Merseyside club have to win a two-legged qualifier at the start of next season if they want to make a return to Europe’s biggest club competition.
Nonetheless, Chelsea went on to claim the Premier League title, with Spurs finishing in their highest league position in over two decades and City finishing in third spot in Pep Guardiola’s first season in charge at the Etihad.