Jose Mourinho - fears slow startJose Mourinho fears Chelsea may not be ready for the Premiership kick-off as they prepare to bid for a hat-trick of titles.
The manager has injuries worries over several players, notably Michael Ballack and Claude Makelele.
A dispute between the club and William Gallas continues to linger, and the champions appear no closer to signing Ashley Cole.
Mourinho remains confident of adding a left-back to his squad before the end of the month.
But he has only 15 senior players in his squad to face Manchester City on Sunday and is worried about their physical condition after a short pre-season.
Mourinho said: "I prefer to play competitive matches than friendlies but I only like to go into matches when I feel my team is ready for it.
"That's not the case now. It's a funny situation to prepare a team without training sessions. The challenge is bigger."
Mourinho may not get much sympathy from his rivals.
He has, after all, spent millions this summer to recruit Ballack, Andriy Shevchenko, Mikel John Obi and Salomon Kalou.
Mourinho said: "We have new players, yes, but we also lost good players and we will have 15 players for this game.
"I cannot complain because last season it happened to Manchester City when they came to Stamford Bridge.
"They played with some young boys and without some important players. This time it is for us."
Hernan Crespo, Damien Duff, Asier del Horno, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Glen Johnson have all left Stamford Bridge this summer.
Mourinho said: "I would not say my squad is stronger now but it is different.
"We don't have second-line players like we had in the last two seasons.
"At this moment the door is open for players like [Lassana] Diarra, Mikel, Kalou. Are they ready like Gudjohnsen and Duff were?"
Mourinho's concerns were evident in last weekend's FA Community Shield when his new team looked short of fitness and familiarity and lost to Liverpool.
His goal remains the same, however, to stockpile major trophies and become only the second manager to win a hat-trick of Premiership titles, after Sir Alex Ferguson.
Mourinho said: "Our objective is to win it for the third year.
"If other people win you can analyse it as a failure for the losers or credit for the winners.
"Everybody tries to improve. Liverpool and Manchester United are buying. Arsenal have kept their good structure from last season."
Mourinho clearly has Ashley Cole on the brain - even though Chelsea are struggling to complete their move for the Arsenal defender.
Running through a list of Manchester City's strikers, the Blues boss said Ashley when he meant Andy Cole.
He quickly corrected his slip of the tongue but, asked if Chelsea will have a new left-back before the transfer window shuts, he said: "I think so. If we do it before the 31st, we are okay."
Despite his shortage of defenders, Mourinho is reluctant to recall Gallas to the squad.
The French defender, who reported late for pre-season, repeated his desire to leave the club this week after playing for his country.
He has one season left on his contract but Chelsea claim there is no interest from potential buyers.
Mourinho would not elaborate on the issue at a press conference today.
But he has been quoted in Portugal, saying: "For the first time in my career, I am ready to keep a player who doesn't want to stay although I know that won't be easy.
"I have already explained to Gallas that the club who wishes to buy him is a phantom club, one without a face.
"He has still not had an clear offer - he is working in the dark. It encourages a player to adopt the wrong attitude.
"If by August 31, this invisible club doesn't become visible, if it does not stop its unethical behaviour and it does not make a serious, honest offer that meets the value of the player, he will end up staying."
0 comments:
Post a Comment