Post by theboyrooney on Jul 19, 2006 11:24:58 GMT
JOSE MOURINHO suffered short-term memory loss last night as he assessed Chelsea's bid for a hat-trick of Premiership crowns.
So far this summer the Blues boss has added Andriy Shevchenko, Michael Ballack, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel to his £200million squad.
But he was insisting Chelsea's title challengers will be better prepared for the new season because his men will still be recovering from the demands of the World Cup.
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True, he did have 17 players in Germany compared to Arsenal's 15, Manchester United's 11 and Liverpool's eight.
But two years ago when United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had similar problems after Euro 2004, Mourinho was dismissive, claiming his rival would have "no excuses" for losing the Premiership opener between the two teams.
But yesterday, referring to United's current summer tour, Mourinho complained: "Manchester United played in South Africa with a first eleven, we can't do this.
"I believe our first part of the season will be quite difficult."
Chelsea will tour America from July 25 to August 6. Their itinerary includes matches in Los Angeles and Chicago.
A week later they take on Liverpool in the Community Shield and then prepare for their Premiership opener against Manchester City.
Mourinho added: "When we play in the Community Shield, Liverpool will have already played Champions League matches and have been training for a month.
"When we play Manchester City in the first game it will be a very similar situation so I think we won't start in the best position.
"We have a lot of quality and I believe everyone will be back fit with a lot of enthusiasm. But the reality is we have to play with half the team for the first game in the States.
"Some of them will not be ready to play in the Community Shield. It's a competition and it's a cup we enjoyed winning last season and of course we want to win this time around as well, but I'll look at it in a different way."
It is a far cry from two years ago when Mourinho took a very different stance ahead of Chelsea's season opener - against United - after Euro 2004.
Back then Fergie travelled to Stamford Bridge with nine players out injured and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and new Argentina signing Gabriel Heinze away with their countries at the Olympics.
But Mourinho was dismissive of Fergie's selection problems. Mourinho said then: "Do they not have 11 to play? I think so.
"They don't have just 16 key players? You can say they have some injured players, like every team has.
"Some a bit more, some a bit less, but everybody has injured players and top teams have to cope with it.
"The difference between the top teams and the other teams is top teams have top squads. So if you say to me Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth has five players out that would be a big problem.
"But if you say to me Manchester United have some players out. Or if Arsenal did or even Chelsea did, we would have to cope with it.
"I can understand that Sir Alex doesn't like the situation with the national teams. I'm completely on his side.
"But he has 11 top players to play. Manchester United always have 11 top players to play. They have a wonderful squad."
Chelsea's William Gallas and Claude Makelele featured for France in the World Cup Final, while Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira helped Portugal reach the last four.
But Mourinho's words will win him little sympathy as he bids to give his players the rest they need before embarking on another long and gruelling club campaign.
With the quality in their ranks, Chelsea will be aiming not only for a third title in a row, but also to prove they have the depth of squad to punch their weight in cup competitions, most notably the Champions League.
Mourinho has admitted he is searching for one more signing to complete his squad - a worldclass full-back, with Arsenal's Ashley Cole top of his list. "I don't think there will be much more movement," added Mourinho. "We can have one player arrive and one leave. We've kept all the good players who were important for us last year and have new ones with a lot of quality."
That one departure may be left-back Asier Del Horno, after Athletic Bilbao joined Spanish rivals Valencia in the battle to sign him. Bilbao president Fernando Lamikiz said last night: "We are ready to equal the r7m (£4.8m) offer made by Valencia."
;D ;D ;D
So far this summer the Blues boss has added Andriy Shevchenko, Michael Ballack, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel to his £200million squad.
But he was insisting Chelsea's title challengers will be better prepared for the new season because his men will still be recovering from the demands of the World Cup.
Advertisement
True, he did have 17 players in Germany compared to Arsenal's 15, Manchester United's 11 and Liverpool's eight.
But two years ago when United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had similar problems after Euro 2004, Mourinho was dismissive, claiming his rival would have "no excuses" for losing the Premiership opener between the two teams.
But yesterday, referring to United's current summer tour, Mourinho complained: "Manchester United played in South Africa with a first eleven, we can't do this.
"I believe our first part of the season will be quite difficult."
Chelsea will tour America from July 25 to August 6. Their itinerary includes matches in Los Angeles and Chicago.
A week later they take on Liverpool in the Community Shield and then prepare for their Premiership opener against Manchester City.
Mourinho added: "When we play in the Community Shield, Liverpool will have already played Champions League matches and have been training for a month.
"When we play Manchester City in the first game it will be a very similar situation so I think we won't start in the best position.
"We have a lot of quality and I believe everyone will be back fit with a lot of enthusiasm. But the reality is we have to play with half the team for the first game in the States.
"Some of them will not be ready to play in the Community Shield. It's a competition and it's a cup we enjoyed winning last season and of course we want to win this time around as well, but I'll look at it in a different way."
It is a far cry from two years ago when Mourinho took a very different stance ahead of Chelsea's season opener - against United - after Euro 2004.
Back then Fergie travelled to Stamford Bridge with nine players out injured and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and new Argentina signing Gabriel Heinze away with their countries at the Olympics.
But Mourinho was dismissive of Fergie's selection problems. Mourinho said then: "Do they not have 11 to play? I think so.
"They don't have just 16 key players? You can say they have some injured players, like every team has.
"Some a bit more, some a bit less, but everybody has injured players and top teams have to cope with it.
"The difference between the top teams and the other teams is top teams have top squads. So if you say to me Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth has five players out that would be a big problem.
"But if you say to me Manchester United have some players out. Or if Arsenal did or even Chelsea did, we would have to cope with it.
"I can understand that Sir Alex doesn't like the situation with the national teams. I'm completely on his side.
"But he has 11 top players to play. Manchester United always have 11 top players to play. They have a wonderful squad."
Chelsea's William Gallas and Claude Makelele featured for France in the World Cup Final, while Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira helped Portugal reach the last four.
But Mourinho's words will win him little sympathy as he bids to give his players the rest they need before embarking on another long and gruelling club campaign.
With the quality in their ranks, Chelsea will be aiming not only for a third title in a row, but also to prove they have the depth of squad to punch their weight in cup competitions, most notably the Champions League.
Mourinho has admitted he is searching for one more signing to complete his squad - a worldclass full-back, with Arsenal's Ashley Cole top of his list. "I don't think there will be much more movement," added Mourinho. "We can have one player arrive and one leave. We've kept all the good players who were important for us last year and have new ones with a lot of quality."
That one departure may be left-back Asier Del Horno, after Athletic Bilbao joined Spanish rivals Valencia in the battle to sign him. Bilbao president Fernando Lamikiz said last night: "We are ready to equal the r7m (£4.8m) offer made by Valencia."
;D ;D ;D