AVB tips former mentor to lead former club to glory.
Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas believes his former club Chelsea are the favourites to win next season’s Premier League title.
The Blues are expected to welcome back Jose Mourinho as head-coach this summer and Villas-Boas, who worked under his compatriot at Stamford Bridge and Inter Milan, is backing the self-proclaimed Special One to take the English crown at the first attempt.
“The championship is extremely difficult, bearing in mind that next year could be a good year to throw yourself into the title mix, and bearing in mind the changes at the top,” Villas-Boas told the Tottenham Journal.
“I think next season Chelsea will absolutely be the team to beat, bearing in mind the manager change and the manager that we expect to come, plus the strengthening of an already very good squad – so I think the reference will come from Chelsea.
“Our step at the moment is to be in the Champions League, not probably title contenders, but we hope to be competitive next season if we manage to do things properly in the summer.”
Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez has led the team to a top four finish in the Premier League and won the Europa League but the Spaniard has already admitted he will depart after the club’s post-season tour of the US.
Mourinho, currently in charge at Real Madrid, is widely expected to leave the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, after failing to retain the La Liga title.
The 50-year-old spent three years in west London between 2004 and 2007, winning two league titles and an FA Cup.
Villas-Boas, meanwhile, spent eight months as Chelsea manager last season before being sacked. If Spurs win their final match of the season against Sunderland, the 35-year-old will have led the club to their record Premier League points haul.
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