Jose Mourinho's words ring truer than ever as Manchester United return to the Champions League

This is football heritage. Those four words, uttered by Jose Mourinho, mark the defining sermon of Manchester United in the last decade.

The words have entered the football lexicon yet they are synonymous with one club. Mourinho delivered the lecture two days after United's supine ejection from the Champions League at the round-of-16 stage by Sevilla in March 2018.

United fans were outraged at the defeat to an ordinary side that had changed coaches mid-season. Vincenzo Montella, in the away dugout for Sevilla's first triumph over United, was sacked the following month.

With emotions raw, Mourinho walked into the press conference room for his post-match debrief and reminded those who had assembled, "I sit in this chair twice in the Champions League and I knock out Man United at home at Old Trafford. I sit in this chair with Porto, Man United out. I sit in this chair with Real Madrid, Man United out. It is not something new for the club."

Also read: Why United are getting so many injuries

Two days later, Mourinho doubled down. The football heritage he was referring to was United's European record. "Since 2011: in 2012: out in the group phase, the group was almost the same group we had this season. Benfica, Basel and Galati from Romania. Out in the group phase.

"In 2013: out at Old Trafford in the last 16 - I was on the other bench. In 2014: out in the quarter-finals. In 2015: no European football. In 2016: comes back to European football, out in the group phase, goes to Europa League and on the second knockout out of the Europa League.

"In 2017: play Europa League, win Europa League - with me - and goes back to Champions League. In 2018: win the group phase with 15 points out of a possible 18 and loses at home in