Jose Mourinho has aimed a not-so-subtle dig at PSG (Pictures: Getty)

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has lamented the rise of ‘small clubs’ with huge financial power when discussing his side’s Champions League hopes for the season.

In what is surely a dig at Paris Saint-Germain after their world-record £199million transfer of Neymar this week, the Portuguese explained how much harder it is for clubs like United these days.

The Red Devils have a great history in Europe’s top club competition, winning it three times, including twice during Sir Alex Ferguson’s recent reign at Old Trafford.

Mourinho himself is a two-time European champion but has his excuses ready as he prepares to take United back into the competition after their win in the Europa League last season.

Neymar’s move to Paris this week stunned world football (Picture: Getty)
PSG will now surely be contenders for the Champions League (Picture: EPA)

PSG will feel they’ve boosted their hopes of glory in Europe this term, and Mourinho appeared to aim a subtle swipe at the wealthy French giants for spending their way into contention.

‘We are new to the competition,’ he told Uefa.com.

‘It’s absolutely true that Manchester United are one of the top three football clubs in the world, no doubt about it, but the football club is one thing and the team’s credentials going into a competition are another thing entirely.

‘So we have a giant on our chest, one which is really heavy, but we don’t compare our potential to the biggest clubs in Europe right now. So we’ll take it step by step and be humble.

Man Utd European honours

Champions League
1967/68, 1998/99, 2007/08

Europa League
2016/17

European Cup Winners’ Cup
1990/91

European Super Cup
1991

‘The club will always be a giant … but our job is to try to bring the football team back to that stature.

‘That’s something really difficult these days: before, the giants were the powerful ones economically, and now there are small clubs in terms of prestige and history who are giants economically. That changes absolutely everything.’

United themselves broke the world transfer record just a year ago when they signed Paul Pogba from Juventus for £89m, but Neymar’s move to the Parc des Princes has come at more than double that price.

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