He never realistically stood any chance against City anyway and perhaps this weeks scathing leaks on the quite mind blowing and carefully concealed financial misdeeds at City have given some credence to his claims that it just isn't an even playing field.
On the surface there seemed to be a rough parity between the two clubs spending, but now there's a huge question mark over that.
Mourinho has always claimed the FFP authorities” have “big and difficult work to do” and he has talked subsequently about the problems of trying to keep pace with a club he described as having “unlimited” spending power.
The Der Spiegel allegations this week are certainly perfectly timed from United’s perspective. They offer a chance to get under City’s skin but, if United lose on Sunday, and certainly if they lose big, Mourinho will also have a ready-made excuse. How can United expect to compete with a team accused of cheating the system?
It also impacts on the narrative going into the game. It is a lot harder to champion City as the new United when an asterisk is now being attached to their name by their accusers. Mourinho knows this. He also knows United are on a better footing than they have been for a good while.