[ad_1]
Tottenham will go to Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, looking to retain their 100% away record in the Premier League and achieve six wins in a row in all competitions.
Chelsea, of course, are in top form. Victory for them would make them seven in a row.
Much, then, for both sides to fear? No, says Mourinho. Fear is not a word I recognize.
“You will have to ask Frank if they fear us or not,” he said. “But I don’t think fear is the right word at this level. We don’t fear anyone.”
Sunday, November 29 4:00 pm
Start 4:30 pm
Without fear. But I certainly respect.
“We respect their potential and I think they respect our potential. Honestly, I don’t think they think they are going to play an easy opponent,” Mourinho said.
“I would love for them to feel that way, but I don’t think they will. Frank is a man with a lot of experience in football and I think they know that we are a difficult team that is capable of going there and winning.”
‘We can’t make the market crazy’
Spurs are two points ahead of Chelsea in the title race, despite Mourinho spending around £ 160m less than Lampard in the summer transfer window.
Mourinho knows all too well the purchasing power of Roman Abramovich, who will mark his 1,000 games as Chelsea owner on Sunday.
“We don’t have the conditions, like some clubs, to make the market crazy,” he said.
Mourinho says when asked to compare the two clubs’ summer spending.
“We have to make the market smart and we did it. We improved the team’s potential,” he added.
José Mourinho and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg celebrate last weekend’s 2-0 win over Manchester City
So the potential has improved, but by how much? Potential champions maybe?
Mourinho is shy.
“If the potential is greater, the expectations are greater. But we are not focused on the table. The table is something that we are going to see when the season ends,” he said.
If history is any guide, Spurs fans can really enjoy staring at the table at the end of the season.
Mourinho has won the league in his second season at every club he has coached except Manchester United. They only achieved runners-up.
Despite that impressive record, Mourinho calls for caution.
“I hope the fans see us as a work in progress,” he said. “It usually takes others years and years to achieve something. I don’t think it’s fair that our expectations exceed reality.”
‘We are confident, the spirit is positive’
However, Mourinho is willing to admit that seeing Tottenham at the top of the league, ahead of Liverpool’s draw with Brighton on Saturday, has increased the confidence of his players.
“We are confident because we work hard, but of course the good results help you feel much better and give you more confidence to play better,” he said.
Confidence is high and so is team spirit. José has a happy group.
“The spirit is positive,” he said. “The players have a great relationship with each other, me and my staff. We try to be their bosses but at the same time we integrate that spirit.”
Substitute Giovani Lo Celso crowned an excellent victory in the rear of Spurs against City with a goal
Sunday’s game will be in an empty stadium, of course. But next weekend’s North London Derby will be the first in front of fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since March.
Two thousand is a small start, says Mourinho, but very welcome anyway.
“It will be nice, even for the visiting team. Even the visiting team will be motivated,” he said.
“Two thousand fans in a 60,000 stadium means that the stadium will be almost empty, but more than 2,000 than zero. It will be a good time for everyone who loves football.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has questioned the fairness of the announcement.
“I don’t understand why we will have 2,000 people in a 60,000 stadium and 2,000 people in a 9,000 stadium,” Klopp asked a few days ago.
But Mourinho disagrees with him despite the Spurs playing at Selhurst Park in fifteen days, which will be almost a tenth of the Palace’s fans.
“It is what it is,” he said.
“I don’t think this is the time to complain or complain about the situation. Just be happy with a little evolution. Ten is better than zero, so let’s accept things as they are.”
Launch-to-post preview: Chelsea and Spurs are title contenders ?; Plus Manchester United ‘leader’ Bruno Fernandes, Arsenal’s creativity woes and more!
This week on the Pitch to Post preview podcast, Peter smith is joined by Michael Bridge Y Charlotte Marsh To look forward to a highly successful London derby between title contenders Chelsea and Tottenham, James Cooper explains how Bruno Fernandes has become the leader of Man Utd, and we look at Arsenal’s creativity issues.
More, Tim thornton has the latest from Leeds and Sheffield United, including the story of how the Blades almost signed Diego Maradona! Charlotte then makes her bold pitch for what she thinks will happen in Premier League action this weekend …
Listen to the launch of Sky Sports to publish the podcast on: Spotify | Apple | Castbox
Watch Chelsea vs Tottenham, live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event on Sunday; start at 4.30 pm
[ad_2]
