Manchester United vs. Sunderland: Jose Mourinho's Key Pre-Match Presser Quotes

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has criticised the festive Premier League schedule, insisting it’s a congested spell "for some clubs, not for everyone."

In his press conference on Friday ahead of Monday's match with Sunderland, Mourinho also confirmed that midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin will be allowed to leave United in the midseason window.

But the Portuguese expressed his ire at the festive agenda, insisting it has not been devised fairly, per Jacob Murtagh of the Daily Mirror:

"

The busy period is for some clubs, not for everyone.

If you analyse clubs, the fixtures are chosen to give rest for some and to create problems to others.

But we are used to it because we're in the Europa League and that is a competition that creates more difficulties—we know that, Southampton know that and Tottenham will find out.

"

The Red Devils take on the Black Cats on Boxing Day at Old Trafford before they face another home clash with Middlesbrough on December 31; two days later they take on West Ham United at London Stadium.

By comparison, after their fixture on New Year’s Eve against Stoke City, league leaders Chelsea will not play until January 4, when they face local rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

United look like they will have to negotiate a packed January without Schneiderlin, after Mourinho confirmed he will be allowed to leave the club. West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis said the Baggies had lodged a bid for the player on Friday, per BBC Sport.

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"If he's not playing regularly then I have no right to say to a player 'no'," Mourinho said, per Murtagh. "So my answer was that if an offer is right and our board thinks that offer is a good offer in relation to the quality of a player like Morgan, then I would not stop him from going."

With Christmas on the horizon, Mourinho was also asked to reflect on his time at United so far. Per the club's official Twitter feed, he indicated he is loving the challenge at Old Trafford:

He also confirmed that everyone at the club is aligned in their desire to get United back on top:

One man who didn't enjoy the pressure of being Red Devils boss was David Moyes, who will be in the opposite dugout on Boxing Day when Sunderland visit Old Trafford.

Moyes was given a difficult task succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson, but his team struggled, and he was sacked before the end of his first season in charge.

Mourinho said he never considered replacing Ferguson when he retired in 2013, as he was employed elsewhere.

"I think when you have United and you are in another club maybe you think twice but when you have United and you don’t have a club and aren't working you don't have a lot to think about," he said, per Murtagh.

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The Red Devils head into the clash with Moyes' side having enjoyed three successive wins in the Premier League, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in brilliant form up top. Mourinho offered a hint that the 35-year-old could end up finishing his career with United:

In terms of team news, the manager revealed he has a fully fit squad to choose from aside from Luke Shaw. "He's not far," Mourinho said of the England left-back. 

While Mourinho evidently isn't happy about the festive schedule, home games against Sunderland and Middlesbrough are fine opportunities to make more progress up the Premier League table.

Given the squad available to the United boss and the overall fitness of it, the Red Devils are much more prepared for this part of the season than the vast majority of clubs in the division.

As such, it's a section of the campaign in which United can make a major impression. Beginning 2017 with momentum would leave fans feeling positive about what's to come next year.