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Chelsea: Jose Mourinho says Tottenham are title contenders

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments600

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes Tottenham are a "big contender" for the Premier League title, claiming they are one of six possible champions.

The Portuguese, 50, insists the title race is more open than during his first spell as Blues boss between 2004-2007.

"Tottenham are a big contender. They have bought players with quality," he said ahead of Saturday's trip to Spurs.

"Six teams are competing for the position. Any one of the six teams can be first, any one can be sixth."

Mourinho joined Chelsea in June 2004 and led them to two Premier League titles in his first two seasons, with Manchester United lifting the trophy in his final season at Stamford Bridge.

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Chelsea and Manchester United were the only Premier League winners between 2005-2011, before Manchester City broke their dominance in 2012.

Mourinho's side go into Saturday's match, which kicks off at 12:45 BST, fourth in the table, two points behind second-placed Tottenham.

"In my first time it was a clear race between Chelsea and Manchester United, two fantastic teams who were probably better than any team at this moment," he said.

"Finally, Man City broke that period of blue and red dominance. At the moment the situation is different.

"At this moment six teams are competing for the position, that is the beauty of the league. It is better like this."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has also said six teams are challenging for the Premier League title, claiming Liverpool and Tottenham have joined Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea as realistic contenders.

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600 comments

  • Comment posted by Davey H, at 16:51 27 Sep 2013

    I'm a LFC fan but no way we're ready to challenge for the title... A sustained challenge for fourth is probably unrealistic to be honest, so I don't exactly buy into what Mourinho says... He's just piling the pressure onto Tottenham, raising their expectations before bringing them back to earth with a bump...

  • Comment posted by Mkwawa, at 16:57 27 Sep 2013

    Anyone else sick of looking at Coleman and Moyes interviews from pre-season? The BBC is a joke. Can't even update their own website.

  • Comment posted by BaggiosPonytail, at 16:42 27 Sep 2013

    A football article available for comment - unbelievable!

    Mourinho is just saying this because it's the done thing now. I expect he doesn't really believe it.

  • Comment posted by maccaynwa, at 16:50 27 Sep 2013

    Who care what's he's said we have a HYS comments section!!!!!!

    On topic

    @14.H_J_B
    I think the reason EFC are not included is because the squad is too small to continue a sustained push for title.

  • Comment posted by legoboy, at 20:24 27 Sep 2013

    I've noticed recently that there has been a lot less blogs on this website. Now I'm all for not reading about people's opinions on Suarez everytime he sneezes. But this is ridiculas.

    Open some blogs on things that matter, like football results rather than this utter trite.

  • Comment posted by User0796855184, at 16:50 27 Sep 2013

    @8 - I think Tottenham, with 4 wins out of 5 and only one goal conceded, have as much right to call themselves contenders than Man Utd, who are below all the other 'candidates'...

  • Comment posted by User0236707065, at 17:08 27 Sep 2013

    50. pravstar

    Are you suggesting Mourinho signed Willian solely because Tottenham wanted him?

    How very cynical, there's absolutely no precedent at all for that sort of thing.

  • Comment posted by shadow warrior, at 16:50 27 Sep 2013

    This season is hard to call, and i think its more abut what team starts to play consistent football the first and for the longest. On the evidence of Newcastle and United games for City they for me are in pole position, but can they keep that form for the whole year. Spurs have a great squad, can they gel in time, if they do they will be exciting to watch.

  • Comment posted by User0952452360, at 07:54 28 Sep 2013

    I see a lot of comments digging into LFC's chances for top 4 and that is fair I suppose. Yeah, we're the laughing boys, we're the team everyone loves to hate. This though, is giving you a false perspective of where we're at. We are top 4 contenders if you like it or not. If we AREN'T, then how are The Mancs? Shocking thus far, their fans know this but their Ego is so big they won't admit it.

  • Comment posted by User0458881786, at 10:04 28 Sep 2013

    490.
    NevN
    15 Minutes ago

    Oh pleeeease ! give us a break.....it's just 22 highly paid twits kicking a bag of wind around..........
    -------
    But why would 22 people kick you ?

  • Comment posted by User0740729670, at 02:46 28 Sep 2013

    @419. AustralianChelseaFanInClapham

    every single thing about you suggests that you're delusional, attention seeking, low, desperate and unaware that you're completely embarrassing yourself due to the fact that you obviously have some kind of unhealthy problem towards Liverpool FC. . keep your sick thoughts to yourself in future. otherwise cry.. cause that seems to be all you're good for. moaning

  • Comment posted by User0297962071, at 08:41 28 Sep 2013

    All these predictions, this early in the season are futile, a couple of weeks ago Liverpool were going to be challengers and if they lose this weekend they'll be mid-table. Arsenal were in turmoil after losing their first game and won every game since. If Chelsea lose today they'll be slammed and if Spurs lose it'll be spurs come down to earth with a bump and never had any chance anyway.

  • Comment posted by saranta, at 18:08 27 Sep 2013

    It would be a massive achievement for Liverpool to finish above Everton.

  • Comment posted by User0960879133, at 20:24 27 Sep 2013

    #221 remind me what arsenal have won recently?

  • Comment posted by mopeysky, at 07:40 28 Sep 2013

    I agree, I reckon Spurs are going to win something this season, as to whether it's the league or not who knows but I do think this is the most open season for years.
    Man City, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal, Man Utd and even Liverpool are in with an outside chance.

  • Comment posted by Football_understand, at 14:09 28 Sep 2013

    @567 now your splitting hairs, your original comment said 'i dont think arsenal have enough goals in them' i gave you statistics which rubbished that statement, i agreed with you in the fact arsenal could do with a striker because i think they are light on numbers, but scoring goals will not be the problem for arsenal.

  • Comment posted by User0160685198, at 08:04 28 Sep 2013

    Love some of these delusional comments on here, only my team will win it bla bla...liverpool supporters know we will NOT win the title but whether all fans like it or not their are SIX teams in the mix and lots of surprises on the way.

    Moon @459 please enlighten us as to who is going to win it, oh but spare the mystic meg theory.

  • Comment posted by User0180801300, at 09:49 28 Sep 2013

    @487 - City's main problem is our away form. If we can maintain the form we have shown against United then we will be right there at the end of the season, but we need to do that against the likes of Stoke and Cardiff, which so far this season we havent done. I like the look of arsenal now with Ozil, but if Giroud dips in form they have no real backup.

  • Comment posted by pravstar, at 20:01 27 Sep 2013

    Bookies ave it as of today :-

    1.Man city - 7/4 - 15/8
    2.Chelsea - 11/4 - 10/3

    3.Man Utd - 4/1 - 9/2
    4.Arsenal - 6/1 - 7/1

    5.Tottenham - 9/1 - 11/1 ( I took 40/1)
    6.Liverpool - 12/1 - 14/1

    I wonder why everyone's talking about the big 6, blatantly obvious lol :-

    7.Everton -400/1

    8/Southampton - 2000/1
    9.Swansea - 2500/1
    10.Newcastle 4000/1

    Bale 74/1 to be top C.L scorer LOL

  • Comment posted by osnabruck, at 20:07 27 Sep 2013

    UUUPPS
    since when does HE respect other teams ? Something isn't right I guess and I have to say that Spurs got an excellent team and Spurs in certainly better without Bale because they have now may little Bales but still there is no better team in London than Millwall of course x

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