Chelsea’s Portuguese manager plays down title hopes…
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho reckons his current team is entirely different to his all conquering side that won back-to-back Premier League titles in 2004 and 2005, reports the Mirror.
The Blues fell to a surprise defeat to Roberto Martinez’s Everton side at Goodison park at the weekend, and could go five points behind the leaders if Liverpool beat Swansea this evening.
Mourinho was quick to stop comparisons between his current side and the 2004/05 outfit.
“No, it is not 2004 all over again,” he said.
“Then we lost against Manchester City in October – our only defeat. But that is not the point. We are not unbeatable. This is a different team.”
Only Petr Cech, John Terry and Frank Lampard remain from Mourinho’s opening title win, and the Portuguese manager now has the job of juggling five or six outstanding attacking midfielders into two positions.
“I came here to work – I don’t say peacefully because I am the first one that does not like to work peacefully – but to work with time, to develop the players and play the best they and we can,” Mourinho added.
“We have to be effective, be adult and not naive. That is what we have to work on. We have to transform the beautiful football we played into goals.”
Interestingly, Mourinho’s original success in England was based upon a rigid defence, unadventurous fullbacks and battling centre-midfielders: who provided a solid base for the few attacking players to create chances.
Now, Chelsea play a more expansive brand of football. Fans though would be delighted with a succession of 1-0 wins instead however if this helped fire the Blues back to the top of the league.
Chelsea next take on FC Basel in the Champions League, before playing Fulham at home next weekend.
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