Jose Mourinho says Manchester United supporters should remain patient because the club is in "the moments of transition".

Fans have become frustrated with United lagging behind Manchester City in the Premier League this season. Their pessimism was compounded last week when the Red Devils were knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage after losing to Sevilla at Old Trafford.

Mourinho's negative tactics in that match drew mountains of criticism from fans and pundits alike. But the Portuguese has remained his unwavering self throughout, and he has once again defended the team's performances this season.

"I understand the frustration, I understand the sadness of being knocked out in the Champions League, but I don't understand anything more than that," Mourinho told CNN.

"In the history of football all around the world, not just in England, you had the biggest clubs with the moments of transition, you have the biggest clubs with moments of continuous and permanent victories and these are phases in the club.

"And I think really at this moment in the Premier League we have one team, one club clearly better prepared than us in the past few years to be first and we have 18 clubs behind us. One in front of us, 18 behind us.

"Of course in the future we want to have 19 clubs behind us but this is the reality.

"And the reality is for people with brain, with sense, with common sense, with knowledge of what sports is, we are in a moment of transition.

"Being in a moment of transition and still manage to do what he did last season and win trophies and to do what we are trying to do this season, which is still trying to win a trophy, and try to be second, because in this moment it's the only top position that is possible for us to get."

"I think we are in a good position."