Jose Mourinho has hit out at his critics, claiming that when he doesn't win they are ready to "kill him".
The Manchester United boss has guided the club to the FA Cup final after a professional victory over Tottenham at Wembley, but the Red Devils have missed out on the Premier League trophy, and were also knocked out of the Champions League by Sevilla.
However, Mourinho, whose side are currently on course to finish second, insists that his critics are always waiting for the slightest slip-up, in order to lambast his management.
"When I don't win, you kill me," Mourinho told reporters. "Because I almost do that all the time, when I don't do it, you kill me, which is what you are all ready to do."
United are currently 16 points behind Manchester City, who won the Premier League title with five games to spare and are on course to break a host of records.
Mourinho, though, thinks that his side should have at least eight more points than they currently do, pointing out unexpected defeats at home against West Brom and away to Huddersfield Town and Newcastle United, and has urged his players to improve next season as they try to reel in Pep Guardiola's men.
"I keep saying that I think we should have probably eight, nine, 10 more points than we had," he added.
"We could finish this season with 88, 89, 90 points. Not acceptable, the last defeat. Not acceptable, the performance at Huddersfield. Not acceptable, the performance at Newcastle.
"So, we lost a few matches that we should do better. Can we improve next season? Let's try.
"Can Manchester City keep this level or improve this level? Only they can say.
"But if they have the team they have and if they are going to invest on top of the team they have, of course it is going to be very difficult for us."