Mourinho had the longest commute this morning after spending Sunday at home in London following Saturday’s lunch time win over Bournemouth.
Manchester United left it late, coming from a goal behind in injury time thanks to Marcus Rashford.
And Mourinho described the first half as awful and admitted they were lucky to still be in the game.
United face a huge week with Juventus and Manchester City to come – two teams who would be able to capitalise on the slack defending on show at the Vitality Stadium.
Mourinho’s side go to Turin on Wednesday needing a result after the defeat in the return fixture and a draw against Valencia.
Then they travel across the city to the Etihad after their 6-1 demolition of Southampton.
City have already built up a nine point lead over United and extended that to 12 would end any feint hopes of United reclaiming the title.
But Mourinho is hopeful that the improving results of the last few weeks will build enough momentum to make it back into the top four.
They are currently seventh, four points behind fourth-place Tottenham and finally have a positive goal difference.
United have been bizarrely poor at the back this season, conceding 18 goals in 11 games.
In comparison City have conceded four, Liverpool five and Chelsea eight.
Another eight teams below United in the league have conceded fewer – including fourth-bottom Newcastle.
“We were a very, very lucky team,” Mourinho said after the Bournemouth match.
“It was a first half that could, should be, game over, 5-2, 6-2 easily, and in the second half until we scored I had the feeling we were a very unlucky team because we should score three, four, five goals.
“We were really poor, defensively awful. And I do not just look to my defenders, as a team we did not start pressing up, the work we did during the week.
“People watching this game will not believe how hard we worked this week. The first half was a disaster.
“It is what we call a game of two halves. In the first half, Bournemouth were by far the best team and in the second half we were the best team by far.
“We have fantastic character and the heart that any result, the game is not over and we go until the end.
“I am trying to find the balance where we develop the team in the second, third phase of attack. When we are in control we have no problems, but when the opponent is in control we do.”
But Juan Mata insists United remain confident going into the big week, but has dubbed it as one of the ‘most difficult weeks of the season’.
“Back-to-back 2-1 wins have given us the confidence we need to face up to one of the most difficult weeks of the season,” said the United midfielder.
“To visit both Juventus and Manchester City in the space of four days is a big challenge that the fixture list has put in front of us, and we are heading towards it with the utmost motivation.”
The mood at United has transformed from a month ago when a poor run of four games without a win left the players short of confidence and Jose Mourinho fighting for his job.
United are performing much better and Mata says coming from behind to win at Bournemouth on Saturday with a 90th-minute goal from Marcus Rashford has boosted their self-belief.
“To beat Bournemouth, a team who had only lost two games in 10 match days, was really positive,” Mata said.
“We were able to carry on well after the win against Everton. We had to come from behind, not for the first time, and it wasn’t easy, but to take the three points in stoppage time is a special feeling.
“Perhaps the best thing from the win was to know that our fans would travel all the way home happy.”