Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho continues to taunt both Arsenal and Manchester City by insisting that Chelsea are the outsiders to win the Premiership despite being level on points with City just two points behind of the leaders Arsenal.
Chelsea Saturday takes on Newcastle at Stamford Bridge while Manchester City is away to Norwich and Arsenal face Liverpool at Anfield.
Speaking ahead of the clash against Newcastle Sky Sport is reporting that the Portuguese manager suggested that Chelsea were only in the position they are in because of the failings of City and Arsenal saying:
“We are there because we are doing very well or because maybe Man City and Arsenal are not doing as well as they should with the conditions they have,” he said.
“Do we dream to win the Premier League? Of course. If we don’t, we don’t play.
“Do we want to win the next game against Newcastle and be there? Of course.
“If we have the chance to win, we are not going to say we don’t want to, but we have not the same responsibilities, that’s for sure.
“When we lost two points against West Ham (in a 0-0 draw), many people were saying we have no attacking power to win every match and to win the Premier League and to compete against teams that score goals and goals and goals and goals.
“Just because we won against Man City, now people are changing their opinion. But, I know where we are, I know that we are good and working well and playing well, but we are going step by step.
“Let us enjoy the moment, the moment is good. We all like very much to be there, to be close to them. That’s good, but no more than that.”
Mourinho went on to repeat his earlier statements when he suggested City and Arsenal should be considered the favourites to win the Premiership.
“I’m not saying we are not going to win,” he said. “I’m saying we are not candidates, I’m saying we are outsiders.
“I’m saying we are playing our league, against ourselves, to try to improve against the other opponents to try to get the best result.
“We are not a squad like Man City’s with every player in the best moment of their careers, all of them working together for quite a long time.
“A manager (Manuel Pellegrini) that arrived and the team was there ready for him.
“Arsenal are the biggest example of the stability, the biggest example of a manager (Arsene Wenger) working with players year after year.
“We are different, we are beginning. In the first day of the next pre-season I will say ‘yes, we are there and we accept that Chelsea is a candidate’. Today, no.”
The Blues boss responded sarcastically when asked if he was trying to play mind games with Arsenal and City.
“Everything I say is mind games, everything I do is mind games, everything is mind games,” he said.
“The only thing that is not mind games is the results. That’s not mind games.”
