Jose Mourinho has claimed Manchester United will need “almost a miracle” to finish in the top four this season and admitted Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic “do not know how to play in defence” despite starting both midfielders there against Southampton.

Mourinho’s blunt admissions come as the United manager faces another major defensive headache ahead of a crucial clash against in-form Arsenal on Wednesday amid doubts over the availability of as many as eight defenders.

United trail Arsenal, in fourth, by eight points and Mourinho - having previously expressed confidence that his side would be in the top four by the end of the month - now appears far more pessimistic about their prospects after successive draws to Crystal Palace and Southampton.

Asked what his aspirations were for the remainder of the season after Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Southampton, Mourinho told Brazilian broadcaster, RedeTV: “Try to win as many points as possible and try [to achieve] almost the miracle of finishing fourth.

“Until last year I said that finishing second was a fantastic thing because of the qualities we had in comparison to the quality of the other teams that are fighting for the top four. And this year with more problems that we have had, it proves what I said at the beginning of the season, that it would be a very difficult season.”