Reuters: Chelsea’s ability to grind out victories will make it very difficult for anyone to catch them in the Premier League, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said.

United, unbeaten in their last eight league games since being thrashed 4-0 at Stamford Bridge, are sixth with 30 points after 17 matches. They are 13 points behind leaders Chelsea, who are six clear of second-placed Liverpool.

“You have to be honest and say that is very difficult. It’s not just the difference in points, it’s also the Chelsea philosophy of playing,” he told British media about his side’s title chances.

“They score one goal and they win. They defend a lot. They defend well ... They don’t care what people say, what people think. They just want to win. And, because of that, I don’t see them losing many points.”

United have narrowed the gap to fourth-placed Arsenal to four points thanks to three straight wins, and Mourinho was reluctant to predict where his side might finish.

“Let’s see where we finish. I don’t want to say fourth, because I think we can do better than fourth,” he added.

“But we have the risk of not finishing fourth because the competition is so hard and the top teams have the same ambitions as we have. So I don’t want to say fourth or third or fifth.”

United host 18th placed Sunderland on Monday.

Hodgson feels Rooney still has role to play for England

Reuters: Wayne Rooney still has an important role to play in manager Gareth Southgate’s England squad, former national manager Roy Hodgson has said after the striker’s leadership was recently called into question.

The 31-year-old captain made a public apology after he was photographed socialising and looking worse for wear at the England team hotel in the early hours of the morning while on international duty last month.

“The question these days for the coach is: Is his role as one of the squad with his experience, knowledge, the fact he’s a good guy and gets on with everybody, or is his role as one of the (starting) XI?” Hodgson told British newspaper the Times.

“That is up to the coach to decide. I don’t know that you become a bad leader, a bad captain, because you get caught having a drink, because someone snapped you.”

Hodgson, who resigned as England manager following their humiliating Euro 2016 exit to Iceland earlier this year, is one of the bookmakers’ favourites to fill the vacant manager’s job at Crystal Palace, who sacked Alan Pardew on Thursday.

However, the 69-year-old will bide his time before taking up his next managerial assignment.

“I’m not thrusting myself forward for every job that comes up. I’m leading a fairly low-key life. I quite like the idea of still coaching,” he added.

“If you ask me what I put on my passport, football manager or football coach? I would put football coach.

“I’ve missed the day-to-day routine after four years with England. I’m a better coach now, towards the end of my career, than I was when I started.”