Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has insisted that merely finishing in the top four of the Premier League during his first season in charge will not suffice.

The Portuguese is tasked with guiding the Red Devils back among the elite sides in England's top flight, following three years of disappointment under previous managers David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.

Mourinho has been told by the club's owners and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward that he will be given the full three years of his contract to bring the good times back to Old Trafford, but the 53-year-old wants to hit the ground running by winning the title in his first campaign at the helm.

"[There is] no ultimatum. No demands. Just tranquillity to play and work my three-year contract," he told The Sun. "The message from the owners and Mr Woodward was this - 'Get your three years, do your work, improve the team and bring us back where we belong during a three-year period'.

"My message was that I wanted to win the title in the first season. I want to be champion. To say before the season starts that the top four is the target? The top four is not the target. We want to play to be champions.

"If during the season we realise the points difference doesn't allow us to fight for the title, we are going to establish a new title and when you can't be champion the next target is to finish top four. But day one, I don't want to hide behind a bad season or no Champions League football to say we want to finish top four."

United have finished seventh, fourth and fifth in the three seasons since Sir Alex Ferguson called time on his managerial career and departed the Theatre of Dreams.