Advertisement

Help
You are here: Rediff Home » India » Sports » Football » Reuters > Report
Search:  Rediff.com The Web
Advertisement
  Discuss this Article   |      Email this Article   |      Print this Article

Mourinho warns rivals
Get Sports updates:What's this?
Advertisement
July 12, 2005 12:24 IST
Manager Jose Mourinho says Chelsea's rivals will need to improve next season to have any chance of beating the English champions.

In an interview with Chelsea's members' magazine published on Monday, the outspoken Portuguese coach also said winning a second title would be tougher.

"It will be harder because other teams understand how strong we are and they have to improve. If they are the same, they know they have no chance."

Chelsea, who won their first championship for 50 years, finished the season 12 points clear of nearest rivals Arsenal [Images] and 18 ahead of third-placed Manchester United [Images].

Asked if his side were still hungry for trophies, Mourinho said his plans for bringing in new blood were partly designed to counter complacency.

"In reality you could say I don't need another midfielder. I have enough. If you don't need it from a football point of view, you need it from a mental point of view.

"A player cannot think that because I was good I have my place and because I have my place I don't need to have the same commitment.

CLUB SUCCESS

"For a manager it is difficult, especially after success...You can't be emotional, you have to think of the most important thing and you have to think about the club."

Chelsea were close to signing Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard last week but at the last minute the England [Images] midfielder opted to stay with Rafael Benitez's European champions.

The London [Images] club has been linked in the media with a raft of high profile players, largely because of the spending power of Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich.

Mourinho, who returned to Stamford Bridge last week from holiday, has sold midfielder Scott Parker and strikers Mateja Kezman and Mikael Forssell, while Argentine striker Hernan Crespo [Images] is back from a year's loan at AC Milan.

His only significant buy so far has been Spanish left back Asier del Horno from Athletic Bilbao and he is still in the market for a midfielder and a striker.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger complained on Sunday that Chelsea's wealth had distorted the transfer market. "There is a price for Chelsea and there is a price for everybody else. You have to wait for them. It's frustrating..." he said.

Mourinho told the magazine he had no problem with personal motivation, after winning the title and League Cup but missing out on the FA Cup and Champions League.

"I'm frustrated because I did not win everything," he said.



© Copyright 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
 Email this Article      Print this Article

© 2008 Rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Feedback