'Mourinho's swipe at Rafa'

[David Hodgson]

JOSE'S SWIPE AT RAFA

John Cross In Los Angeles 25/07/2007

 

JOSE MOURINHO'S promise to chill out was shattered when he took a swipe at Rafa Benitez - claiming Liverpool will be under massive pressure to win the Premiership title.

 

Liverpool boss Benitez has spent big this summer, splashing out £40m on Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun after being given a huge budget by American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

 

And that was enough for Mourinho to drop his "mellow" approach.

 

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The Chelsea boss said: "In their fourth season with Benitez, they want the Premiership.

 

"They don't hide. Benitez, the players, they all speak about getting the Premiership.

 

"I can say the pressure is a bit higher because at this moment they cannot point at other clubs spending money whereas before they could say: 'look at those guys - they spend loads of money'.

 

"These guys have to win because they spent lots of money. This season they go onto the pitch with a different outlook.

 

"They have high responsibilities and high expectations, whereas in the last three years only Chelsea and Manchester United have won the title between us.

 

"But Liverpool and Arsenal, especially Liverpool, have a new pressure to win the Premiership.

 

"I read in the summer that Steven Gerrard, Carragher and maybe even Riise saying they must win this season, it has to be this season.

 

"I think that is good. It's positive and it's what everybody wants and it's what we want too.

 

"I think last season was frustrating for them - they won nothing. But they always have a good group, good players, so I think they'll be better."

 

Mourinho is clearly determined to play mind games with Benitez and ramp up the pressure on the Spaniard.

 

 

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Oh what mischief they do make. There is little wrong in any of that. If anything he's being complimentary.

[Guest Johnie82]

Yet another article where the title of it has absolutely nothing to do with its content.Idiots!

[floyd]

How many of Fleet Street's finest are over touring with Chelsea?

and everyone one of them is up Mourinho's and Kenyon's jacksie.

[Cunny]

don't forget the journo who writes the article does not write the headline, a sub-editor does.

Their job is to make the headline sell the story/paper even if the two are completely different.

Edited July 25, 2007 by Cunny

[Benitez]

he's right (first time for everything ), there will be big pressure on.

 

But there will be as much if not more on Maurenho, so he'll do his best to shift that pressure elswhere while he can. I suspect Maurenho has to win the Champions League this season, his 4th season here, having spent more than anyone, not getting to the final this year, isn't an option.

[David Hodgson]

don't forget the journo who writes the article does not write the headline, a sub-editor does.

Their job is to make the headline sell the story/paper even if the two are completely different.

 

Sure, but the substance of what the journo has written is also trying to imply that Mourinho is fully on the wind up.

[RedNik]

It is a little bit defensive though on his side. From since the spat between him and abramovich broke out till even now, he's been trying to point out how little they've spent as compared to their rivals - perhaps trying to reduce the pressure load on himself.

[David Hodgson]

he's right (first time for everything ), there will be big pressure on.

 

But there will be as much if not more on Maurenho, so he'll do his best to shift that pressure elswhere while he can. I suspect Maurenho has to win the Champions League this season, his 4th season here, having spent more than anyone, not getting to the final this year, isn't an option.

 

Well, if he repeats last season he'll be out of work.

 

Ironically, I think Man Utd winning the league last season means that Abramovich will probably take Chelsea's previous title wins less for granted. I think, therefore, that winning the league would be enough to keep Jose his job.

[David Hodgson]

It is a little bit defensive though on his side. From since the spat between him and abramovich broke out till even now, he's been trying to point out how little they've spent as compared to their rivals - perhaps trying to reduce the pressure load on himself.

 

Yeah, but no biggy by his standards, and it's also quite respectful to us. He's clearly not writing off our title prospects as he has in the past.

[RedNik]

Yeah, but no biggy by his standards, and it's also quite respectful to us. He's clearly not writing off our title prospects as he has in the past.

 

I think I read something he said to the effect of him becoming less controversial from now on.

[Stevie H]

it's two and a half weeks until the new season and all they've been writing about is tevez and heinze. it's time to stoke it up ahead of the super sky spectacular season stunning start scenario situation.

[PhilM]

Hasn't Chelsea's net spend this year been about the same as ours anyway give or take a few million?

[RedNik]

Well yes in reality, they've spent a lot, and signed a few players on bosmans - with, I imagine, huge wages relative to their market value.

[Cobs]

Yeah, but no biggy by his standards, and it's also quite respectful to us. He's clearly not writing off our title prospects as he has in the past.

 

exactly

 

 

he's running scared.

[Stevie H]

it's on.

[McBain]

Hasn't Chelsea's net spend this year been about the same as ours anyway give or take a few million?

 

They've only paid cash for one player i think. Malouda at £13.5m

 

Fact is rivalry and all that aside they've made some really odd decisions this summer. Ben Haim i could maybe understand but Pizarro and Sidwell are players that are unlikely to make any sort of dent in their team

Edited July 25, 2007 by Mcbain

[Raj]

Fact is rivalry and all that aside they've made some really odd decisions this summer. Ben Haim i could maybe understand but Pizarro and Sidwell are players that are unlikely to make any sort of dent in their team

 

Ben Haim makes sense as he can cover a lot of positions across the back four. Pizarro is an astute signing. He will add more depth to their frontline and will be able to cover for Drogba and Kalou when they disappear for the ANC.

 

Sidwell is a bizarre decision when you consider the amount of central midfielders they have.

[surf]

mourinho

 

[Gilps]

it's time to stoke it up ahead of the super sky spectacular season stunning start scenario situation.

 

Is that what they're calling it now? I've only just got used to calling it the Community Shield instad of the Charity Shield

[pipnasty]

it's on.

 

[Guest Anders Honoré]

it's on.

 

:dynamite:

[Knox_Harrington]

"I read in the summer that Steven Gerrard, Carragher and maybe even Riise saying they must win this season, it has to be this season.

This, obviously, strikes me as quite funny.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Of course its a swipe at Benitez. Rafa has been beating Jose with that stick for nigh on 3 years now. Mourinho claimed last May that he would be sacked with Rafa's record and now with the cash if he doesnt win the title he will be under fierce pressure.

[David Hodgson]

Of course its a swipe at Benitez. Rafa has been beating Jose with that stick for nigh on 3 years now. Mourinho claimed last May that he would be sacked with Rafa's record and now with the cash if he doesnt win the title he will be under fierce pressure.

 

 

It's a bit of a re-iteration of his 'look we're not the ones doing the big spending now' theme, but it's hardly a major dig. If anything he's taking about our self-imposed pressure, and he clearly implies that he thinks we'll be a major threat.

 

The paper could just as easily put the heading of 'Jose sees Liverpool as title threat', but that woudln't risk winding anyone up.

[yellow jumper]

Fact is rivalry and all that aside they've made some really odd decisions this summer. Ben Haim i could maybe understand but Pizarro and Sidwell are players that are unlikely to make any sort of dent in their team

 

they'll be most affected by the african nations cup (although arsenal will also suffer). pizarro's a decent stand-in for drogba and will surprise a few, sidwell gives him another option when mikel and essien go. they look stronger than ever defensively and will probably add a right back, personally think carvalho's their best defender, but alex and terry (sound like a pair of hairdressers) could end up being their starting two centre-backs given the way he likes to play.