Jose Mourinho says his debut season at Manchester United has been his toughest year as a coach.

United could end the year with two trophies and Champions League qualification, but such are the expectations at Old Trafford Mourinho acknowledges the assessment of the campaign comes down to one game.

Should his side defeat Ajax on May 24 to win the Europa League it will be regarded a success.

Failure will provoke a more critical reaction. But Mourinho says regardless of the outcome he has never had to work harder to get the most from a team.

“Sometimes you get into big clubs in difficult moments and the work is harder than a smaller club in the moment of an explosion,” said Mourinho.

“There is some invisible work but I know what I did and what I have to do better than anyone.”