Chelsea FC manager has stated that although he likes Paul Pogba, they might not be able to afford the Juventus midfielder.
Despite being linked with a lot of players, Chelsea are yet to make any big summer signings in this transfer window and according to Jose Mourinho, it is like likely to stay that way.
The Blues won the Premier League title with quite comfortably last season and the rest of the title challengers have a lot of catching up to do. Both Manchester United and Manchester City have made big signings this summer, while Liverpool have also reshaped their squad. Arsenal have been fairly quiet so far in this transfer window, except the signing of Petr Cech, but they are expected to strengthen their squad as well.
Chelsea on the other hand are looking to work with the same core of players who won them the league last season, other than replacing the players who have left this summer. Didier Drogba has been replaced by Radamel Falcao, while Asmir Begovic has supplanted Petr Cech.
Jose Mourinho claims that he will leave the big spending to his rivals, who need to do so in order to compete with Chelsea next season, as he looks to improve their standards with the same set of players.
While others keep spend to compete with Chelsea, Mourinho stresses on the importance of improving as a team
a To go for somebody ita s because I lose somebody. Ita s because somebody wants to leave and because somebody brings the perfect offer for Chelsea to accept. I think the market is inflated. I only have to look at what is happening in my own country. [Portugal] is a country in trouble generally a socially, politically, economically. Ita s a country in trouble, people are suffering a lot, there have been a lot of cuts, old people have trouble with their pensions, tax is higher, salaries, jobs, everything.
a This season Porto pay a 20m for Imbula, they give Casillas an amazing salary, Sporting are paying millions for coaches and players. Football breaks every situation. This season we are saying: a Oh, look at this amount for Sterling.a But it will be worse next season. Next season someone will pay A?60m. Football is like this a one season is financial fair play, the next is a way to dribble [past] the financial fair play. It doesna t upset me. Ia m happy with the way that we are doing things I am happy with the challenge of fighting against this power. I told the players that we are the same team and the others are not the same team. I cannot stop opponents to make an assault to the banks and spend millions and millions. I cannot stop that. I cannot stop [that] the others have a feeling that we are playing against the champions.
a The others are spending. The others are buying a lot to try to be better than us and the fact that we are the same a we are changing a goalkeeper for another one, a striker for another one.a a The Chelsea manager said in an interview to the Guardian.
Mourinho stressed on the importance of the players improving their game individually next season, in order to defend the title against teams who will be much stronger next time around.
a Ita s a big challenge. To be better with the same people, the players have to be better individually than they were last year. So when they think: a Oh last season I did great,a this season it is not enough.
a John Terry a great season. This season it is not enough. Must be better. F bregas a I dona t know how many assists last year. Fantastic. Ita s not enough. Because the others are going to improve with the players they are bringing and we have to improve by ourselves with our work.a a He added.
“I love the Eiffel Tower but I cana t have the Eiffel Tower in my garden” .
Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been linked with Chelsea, among many other clubs, but Mourinho hinted that they might not be able to afford the Frenchman.
a Pogba is not to put pressure on people. Pogba is one of the top players in the world. Pogba goes to any team and improves that team automatically. If he stays at Juventus, Juventus will be very strong again. If he goes somewhere else he will improve immediately a team. This is not our case. We are changing Cech for Begovic, we are changing Didier for Falcao and we are changing kids by other kids. I think everybody has an interest in Pogba. But there are things you can do and things you cannot do. I love the Eiffel Tower but I cana t have the Eiffel Tower in my garden. I cana t even have the Eiffel Tower of Las Vegas.a a Mourinho said.
While Chelseaa s new found austerity in the transfer market is almost refreshing to see, one cana t really rule out at least one big signing this summer at Stamford Bridge.