Chelsea FC have had a very quiet summer in terms of signings, but Sky Sports pundit and Liverpool FC legend Jamie Carragher believes manager Jos Mourinho could be the difference maker for the Blues
The Blues begin the defence of their Premier League crown against Swansea on Saturday having made just two signings – Asmir Begovi from Stoke City to replace departing legend Petr A?ech, and Radamel Falcao on loan from AS Monaco to try and fill the void left by Didier Drogba.
Despite major title rivals far outspending Chelsea FC, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher believes the Blues are still the team to beat because they have the ‘best manager’ in the league in Jos Mourinho.
“Jos is worth 10 points to Chelsea”
The Liverpool legend weighed in on the main title contenders for the new Premier League season set to get underway on Saturday, and insisted that Chelsea FC were still the team to beat in England’s top division.
Speaking to England’s Mail Online, Carragher said: “a Look, for me, ita s Chelsea again, ahead of Manchester City. Arsenal have closed the gap, but they are still third best. And then there is one place in the Champions League up for grabs: Manchester United should get it, Liverpool and Tottenham will compete for it.
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“It depends on how each squad copes with the demands of European football.”
From the @MailSport pullout today. http://t.co/CXicQNba57
a Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) August 7, 2015
The Liverpool FC legend explained his rationale for picking Chelsea FC as favourites, saying: “One answer. Jos Mourinho. Just as Sir Alex Ferguson used to be, he is now the best manager. Having the best manager is worth points on the board. Jos is worth 10 points a season to Chelsea.
a They havena t really strengthened at all, but they dona t need to have the best team a they have the best manager. They can have the equal best team, but Jos is the difference.”
Mourinho more likely to be in his element this season than ever before at Chelsea FC
From what the footballing world has come to know and understand about Jos Mourinho over the past decade, a truism that is oft repeated about the Portuguese, is his ability to thrive when his back is against the wall.
Although this is not strictly the case at Chelsea FC this season (Mourinho does, after all, have a fantastic squad), the Blues manager has had precious few seasons in his career where all of his major rivals have – as it stands at the moment – outspent him.
That will only help Mourinho create the now-famous ‘us against the world’ mentality within his squad, and motivate them to retain the Premier League crown as well as upset the odds in the UEFA Champions League.
Carragher is right in saying that Mourinho is the best manager in the league. Winning the Premier League next season with Chelsea FC, however, will make that statement irrefutably true.