Jose Mourinho has once again insisted Manchester United were the rightful winners of the 2017/18 Premier League title — legally, at least.
In a fresh interview with Record, the current Fenerbahce manager doubled down on his belief that the Mourinho Man Utd 2018 title claim holds weight in light of Manchester City's unresolved Financial Fair Play (FFP) case.
Mourinho finished second to Pep Guardiola’s City in the 2017/18 campaign, trailing by 19 points. But with 115 charges of financial rule breaches still hanging over City, the Portuguese coach believes the title should be awarded to United if the charges are upheld.
What Mourinho Said
Speaking to Record, Mourinho said:
“I still say I don’t understand clubs that are punished with financial fair play and pay [in cash]. I think they should pay points. Manchester City was punished, and legally, we should have won the league.” — Jose Mourinho, Record
He added that the lack of “stability and continuity” at United prevented him from building a title-winning dynasty — and teased revelations in his upcoming Netflix documentary.
Why Mourinho’s Claim Matters Now
Manchester City remain under investigation for alleged FFP breaches spanning 2009 to 2018. If found guilty, City could face points deductions or retrospective punishments — including potential revocation of honours.
While stripping titles remains unlikely, Mourinho’s comments underline growing scrutiny around the legitimacy of City’s domestic dominance.
The 2017/18 Final Table – Top 3
| Club | Points | Goal Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | 100 | +79 |
| Manchester United | 81 | +40 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 77 | +38 |
Analyst Verdict
Mourinho’s comments tap into a real debate around how financial breaches should be punished in football. He’s right that fines alone often fail to deter rule-breaking, especially at the top end of the game.
If City are eventually found guilty of serious long-term financial misconduct, it will intensify calls for point deductions or competitive sanctions — not just symbolic fines.
That said, the notion of retrospectively awarding titles remains controversial and logistically messy. Mourinho’s claim is unlikely to materialise into silverware — but it may reignite pressure on the Premier League to be transparent and decisive in its ruling.
Key Insights
- Mourinho insists Man Utd "legally" won 2018 title if City are found guilty
- Man City face 115 FFP charges relating to 2009–2018
- He believes FFP violations should result in points, not financial fines
- Mourinho’s Netflix doc will reveal more from his United spell
- The Premier League investigation is still ongoing in 2025
What’s Next?
With pressure building and legal teams finalising their submissions, the Premier League’s FFP case against City is entering a critical phase.
Expect more public commentary from figures like Mourinho as the football world awaits clarity — and potentially, one of the most explosive verdicts in Premier League history.
Should the Premier League consider stripping titles — or would points deductions be enough?
2 Comments (last comment by JamesLove)
First read message
By JamesLove 23 Jul 2025 10:50
Move on, the PL/FA or however you want to call it won’t do anything..
By Adem 23 Jul 2025 10:29
Box-office and the special one. Unfortunately his football isn't what it is anymore - despite that he'll be always a PL legend.
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