Mourinho says his players could not have done more this season

United gave Chelsea a guard of honour when they won the title two years ago.

And after Chelsea's draw with Arsenal handed United the title, Mourinho said: "We shall do the same for them.

"This is not a time for excuses. I wish to congratulate the manager, the players, the board - and everyone else who gave them a help to be champions."

Despite conceding the title to United, Mourinho said his players could hold their heads high when they face the new champions on Wednesday.

606: DEBATE If Chelsea didn't do a guard of honour they would lose the respect of neutrals and the media GM

"Sometimes, when you win a lot of trophies, you can reach a point when you do not give everything," he said.

"The commitment and ambition are not the same or you are not hungry enough to win again or you lose something mentally.

"Exactly the opposite has happened for us. The players have given us more this season than they did in the previous ones when we didn't have any injuries or other problems.

"I always knew one day I would not be a champion. But when it happened I didn't want to be blaming myself or the players or the other people I work with."