Mourinho: Title May Still Be out of Reach

Jose Mourinho has warned Chelsea fans that it will be even harder for the club to win the league next season.

Chelsea finished four points behind champions Manchester City last month in Mourinho’s first campaign back at the club and failed to win any of the cup competitions.

Mourinho has already strengthened the squad by signing Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona for £27million and is expected to conclude a £50m deal for Diego Costa, Filipe Luis and Tiago Mendes from Atletico Madrid.

He is also targeting another forward, a midfielder and a centre-half but, despite improving the strength of his squad, fears Chelsea could still fall short again.

He said: “Next season will be very, very difficult, even more so. I know Chelsea will be better but maybe the other teams will be better, too, so it will again be the kind of League where you don’t know if you’re going to finish first or sixth. In this moment I have to think and feel and say we want to finish first.”

Mourinho won five major trophies, including two titles in his first reign between 2004-7, but admits patience will be required as he builds a new team that can have similar success.

Veterans Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole have left the club this summer and Mourinho added: “I was a little part of the process that made Chelsea a force in the last decade and I came back with the dream to try to be a little part again of the next decade.

“After 10 years of titles and great moments, this is a moment to rebuild again, because teams don’t last for ever. Clubs yes, but not the teams. In the same club you have to build another team. That’s what we are doing and for sure the results will come.”

Mourinho believes Belgium star Eden Hazard, who was named PFA Young Player of the Year in April, is going to be even more crucial.

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He said: “Obviously the fans enjoy and respect people like Gary Cahill, Cesar Azpilicueta, John Terry - people that are so stable during the season and do an incredible job for the team - but people like Eden bring the magic and win matches in one action. They have the flair and the artist’s touch of the football.

Source: Standard UK

 

By SIMON JOHNSON