Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says the club “don’t celebrate second position” after sealing the runners-up spot in the Premier League with a 0-0 draw at West Ham.
United are currently nine points and four positions better off than last season, Mourinho’s first at the club.
And while he said he felt “OK” about finishing second, he added: “I am not jumping around – that’s not my nature or my history. Manchester United are the same.
“We don’t celebrate second position but we are happy because for a few months, we realised it was impossible to win the league and, of course, the target is the second position.
“The top four is obviously important but it’s better to finish second than fourth and it’s better to be second for months and months and months than losing that position and that control.
“I think we deserved that, the boys deserve that and to be the runner-up is not bad in a league of this dimension and this difficulty.”
United, denied victory by the inspired form of West Ham goalkeeper Adrian, moved four points clear of third-placed Tottenham with one game left.
David Moyes’ side remain 15th in the table after securing their survival