Jose Mourinho has claimed English football continues to undermine its own clubs’ prospects of success in the Champions League - but insists he would not have it any other way.

Manchester United return to the Champions League against Basel at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening after a 644-day absence, with Mourinho admitting his side and England’s other entrants in the competition remain a level below Europe’s best.

Chelsea were the last English club to win the Champions League five years ago and Mourinho believes the absence of a winter break, the intense level of competition in the Premier League and the authorities’ reluctance to rearrange fixtures to benefit the country’s European representatives have a damaging effect.

“We have to admit there are differences in relation to other countries but there is nothing to do [about it], that is obvious,” the United manager said.