Jose Mourinho: Barcelona and Real Madrid would not dominate in the Premier League

Mourinho says in Spain they only have 'three or four matches' each season

Tom Sheen
Tuesday 19 May 2015 15:39 BST
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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was left puzzled by Cesc Fabregas' red card
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was left puzzled by Cesc Fabregas' red card (Getty Images)

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes that giants Barcelona and Real Madrid would not dominate in the Premier League in the same way as they do in La Liga.

The Chelsea manager, who won La Liga once in his three year spell at Real Madrid, claims the two clubs would struggle in England because there is too much competition, even from lower league teams in cup competitions.

"I was in Spain, but I didn’t enjoy," he told TalkSPORT. "I didn’t enjoy it because I won a title with a record in Spain with 100 points and 121 goals, but we played only three or four matches all season.

"I lost a title with 92 points, but again we played only four or five matches in the season.

“You feel the pressure that you have to win every match because if you don’t you are not champions. You have to win and win and win. But it is a big, big gap between the giants and the others."

Mourinho says that while managers in Spain and Italy can rotate their squads and look ahead to bigger matches on the horizon, in the Premier League he has to play his best available team every week or risk dropping points.

"In matches in other countries you can win matches when you are resting. In Spain and in Italy, I won lots of matches resting," he added. "Where you can think, 'what next'. Where you can think which European game is coming, where you can rest players.

Barcelona won the Spanish title at the weekend
Barcelona won the Spanish title at the weekend (PA)

"This season I rested a few players against Bradford and I lost against Bradford [in the FA Cup]. And that is English football. You are winning 2-0 and if you concede a goal you know you are going to have hell for the last few minutes and you might draw 2-2 and lose two points.

"This is the reality of the Premier League. You have no time. It’s not just about the number of matches, it’s the intensity. And it’s not just physical intensity, you feel the intensity mentally.

"I think the difference between the two leagues [Premier League and La Liga] is huge. Would they [Barcelona or Real Madrid] win the Premier League? Maybe yes. Maybe not."

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