Indeed, neither David Moyes or Louis van Gaal before him could manage it either, with the Red Devils still some way off rediscovering what made them so great under Sir Alex Ferguson.
It's fair to say that it could take some time for Mourinho's men to fully gel together and to build an on-field relationship that will see them charge up the Premier League table and compete for major honours.
But while Zlatan Ibrahimovic has made a fine start to life at Old Trafford and in the league, the Portuguese has still yet to get the very best out of his fellow signings who followed him into the club in the summer.
Nonetheless, the 53-year-old inherited some top talent but has not been able to build a United team that's managed to compete with the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City for top spot so far this season.
And, as per Sky Sports, it appears Mourinho has all but written of United's title chances already this campaign, with the club sixth in the table ahead of their visit to Everton.
"When I was speaking about destinations, I think the destination is for us is to be champions," said Mourinho. "Maybe not this year, maybe we cannot do it.
"I don't know. In football anything is possible but maybe we don't do it."
ADMISSION OF DEFEAT
But if that, what appears to be, admission of defeat hadn't already surprised Red Devils fans, the fact that the Portuguese suggested they may never win the title under his leadership was certainly worrying.
"There's a gap between us and the top of the table but the destination is for us to be champion.I don't know when, maybe next year, maybe this year, maybe in two years' time." Mourinho added.
"Maybe when I'm not here and somebody else comes, but if we follow this direction the destination is to be champions."
United are currently 11 points adrift of league leaders Chelsea and eight points short of the top four, after 13 games. They will face a Toffees side just a point and a place behind them in the table on Sunday.
TRANSFER TROUBLES
Paul Pogba has yet to showcase the kind of form that earned him his Old Trafford return in the summer, while Mourinho has given Henrikh Mkhitaryan a very restricted role for the team so far this season.
And with Eric Bailly currently out injured, United are only truly feeling the benefits of Ibrahimovic's arrival this summer.
But with the experience they possess within their ranks, there will be no excuses if Mourinho doesn't meet his targets of at least returning United to European football by the end of the campaign.
Can Manchester United finish in the top four this season? Give your opinion in the comment box below.
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