JOSE MOURINHO BELIEVES even Manchester City’s “B team” is strong enough to win the Premier League this season, but he does not expect Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal to contend for the title.
Reigning champions City cruised to a resounding 5-0 victory in their opening game against West Ham on Saturday, with Raheem Sterling plundering a hat-trick.
Sergio Aguero surprisingly started on the substitutes’ bench, where he was joined by Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden, Nicolas Otamendi, Claudio Bravo and Joao Cancelo, City’s new signing from Juventus.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Manchester United’s clash against Chelsea on Sunday, Mourinho highlighted the pool of talent available to Pep Guardiola.
Asked how many teams can win the title this term, Mourinho replied: ”Four. Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool and City’s B team.
“When I looked at the bench yesterday [Saturday] and the players that were not even involved, I believe even their B team could fight for the title.”
Mourinho was dismissed by Manchester United in December after a torrid run of form and the Portuguese does not expect his former side to challenge City, Liverpool or Tottenham.
“I want to say the obvious thing: we would love United, Arsenal and Chelsea to be at that level,” he added.
“Sometimes in football unbelievable things can happen, but we are speaking about a team that last season won everything, we are speaking about the European champions, we are speaking about the European runners-up.
“We are speaking about United that finished sixth and Arsenal that finished fifth.”
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Hard to argue with that and even as a pool fan I think city could well have the league wrapped up by march/april
@Paul Mallon: some fan you
@Ollie Watson: be quiet
@Paul Mallon: I’m right
@Paul Mallon: spurs will push them to the final day, Liverpool will b well off the pace
@Dan2078: Spurs points tally at the end of the season will be closer to the team in 10th place than the team who finish 1st
@Seàn Mc: haha that’s funny or ur just not very intelligent
Fair enough and I’m an arsenal fan
If he hadn’t spent £400 million on Southampton level players then Utd’s A team might be competing for a top 3 spot, instead of a top 6.
A lot of good players he could have bought during his time at Utd – Zaha, Maguire, Maddison, N’Golo Kante, Van Dijk, Fabinho etc
Pool fan but I can’t help but to kind of like Jose. He’s entertaining af
Hate to say it, but Liverpool probably need to just hang on in there and hope that pep leaves next year and then they’ll have a chance
@jl: no chance lad 18 + 1
@Ollie Watson: hope yer right
@jl: no need to hope that’s a fact
A bitter man with no ambition or vision. Everywhere he went he destroyed.