Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho feels they are title contenders as they look to fight for the Premier League crown from.
Mourinho says Chelsea are EPL title contenders
Over the course of the summer, Mourinho has bolstered his squad with the acquisitions of Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa, Filipe Luis and Didier Drogba.
Mourinho believes the new arrivals have enjoyed a productive pre-season campaign and their presence within the group gives Chelsea a chance of winning the Premier League title.
Chelsea begin their season away to Burnley on Monday Night and Mourinho is expecting a tough test, both at Turf Moor and throughout the season.
“We bought some key players and we feel these players have brought the squad into another dimension,” he said.
“We are title contenders but if you are expecting me to say we are going to win the Premier League, I cannot say this.
“I have to respect this competition and in terms of country’s championships, this is the only one with more than two contenders. There are five or six.
“I want to win against Burnley - that is the first step. To win against Burnley will be very hard.”
Jose Mourinho believes his goalkeeping selection issue is the type of problem any manager in world football would welcome.
Chelsea head to Turf Moor to round off the opening weekend’s fixtures, but whether it’s Petr Cech or Thibaut Courtois lining up in goal for the Blues remains to be seen.
Mourinho will announce his decision to the squad on Sunday, but believes such a positive selection headache can only benefit his side as they enter the new campaign.
"I can’t tell you (who will play) because they don’t know and the team doesn’t know," he said.
"What I can say is that in my opinion, with all respect to fantastic goalkeepers around the world, I think Chelsea has two of the three best goalkeepers in the world, which is unique.
"Is it a problem for me? It’s a great problem because they are both fantastic. Even Schwarzer, who is at a different age and a different level at this moment, is a good goalkeeper. But, to have Cech and Courtois is a good problem every manager in every club would like to have.
"It’s not easy because I don’t think any manager is happy to see one player in an uncomfortable situation, so from that perspective it’s not easy for me. I like to see people happy. I understand that for goalkeepers who could play for any club in the world, and here one of them is going to be on the bench, it’s a difficult situation, but for Chelsea Football Club it’s a great situation.
"Obviously during the season if one is definitely my first choice I will have to support and stimulate the other one. I can’t have one incredible goalkeeper on the bench for three or four months waiting for a Capital One Cup game.
"The best way for me to work is to think in a pragmatic way, in a cold way too. It’s to forget and hide the emotions around the situation and decide what’s best for the team and the club. It’s a very safe situation."
Chelsea head to Turf Moor to round off the opening weekend’s fixtures, but whether it’s Petr Cech or Thibaut Courtois lining up in goal for the Blues remains to be seen.
Mourinho will announce his decision to the squad on Sunday, but believes such a positive selection headache can only benefit his side as they enter the new campaign.
"I can’t tell you (who will play) because they don’t know and the team doesn’t know," he said.
"What I can say is that in my opinion, with all respect to fantastic goalkeepers around the world, I think Chelsea has two of the three best goalkeepers in the world, which is unique.
"Is it a problem for me? It’s a great problem because they are both fantastic. Even Schwarzer, who is at a different age and a different level at this moment, is a good goalkeeper. But, to have Cech and Courtois is a good problem every manager in every club would like to have.
"It’s not easy because I don’t think any manager is happy to see one player in an uncomfortable situation, so from that perspective it’s not easy for me. I like to see people happy. I understand that for goalkeepers who could play for any club in the world, and here one of them is going to be on the bench, it’s a difficult situation, but for Chelsea Football Club it’s a great situation.
"Obviously during the season if one is definitely my first choice I will have to support and stimulate the other one. I can’t have one incredible goalkeeper on the bench for three or four months waiting for a Capital One Cup game.
"The best way for me to work is to think in a pragmatic way, in a cold way too. It’s to forget and hide the emotions around the situation and decide what’s best for the team and the club. It’s a very safe situation."
Jose Mourinho believes Chelsea has a team better than that of last season.
"Last season we were not feeling as though we were a title contender but in fact we finished very close to the title,’ said the Portuguese. ‘We didn’t feel like one of the favourites for the Champions League and we played a semi-final, so we did well.
"This season obviously we bought some key players, we believe and we are feeling that the new players have brought the squad and team into another dimension.
"Yes we are title contenders, if you expect me to say we will win the Premier League I can’t say that. I can’t because I have to respect the competition, which is the only one that has more than two title contenders. I have to respect the opponents and efforts the other teams made to improve their already top teams, but we all feel we are title contenders."
"Last season we were not feeling as though we were a title contender but in fact we finished very close to the title,’ said the Portuguese. ‘We didn’t feel like one of the favourites for the Champions League and we played a semi-final, so we did well.
"This season obviously we bought some key players, we believe and we are feeling that the new players have brought the squad and team into another dimension.
"Yes we are title contenders, if you expect me to say we will win the Premier League I can’t say that. I can’t because I have to respect the competition, which is the only one that has more than two title contenders. I have to respect the opponents and efforts the other teams made to improve their already top teams, but we all feel we are title contenders."
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