EDS YOU WIN
Mourinho’s history lesson: When Hazard is the best, Blues are the champs
JOSE MOURINHO has backed his former club Chelsea to win the title – because they have the best player in the Premier League in Eden Hazard.
Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge today hailing Maurizio Sarri’s side as potential champions because of the unique threat their Belgium star brings to the Blues’ team.
Manchester City and Liverpool may be the fancied title favourites, but Mourinho is convinced Chelsea can win it if Hazard stays fit and in form.
“The results speak for themselves,” said the Manchester United boss (below, with Hazard). “Obviously, they’re not playing Champions League.
“That puts them just on the Premier League and, in the Premier League, the results speak for themselves. Very good results, at the top of the league, and lots of good players.
“But history says that when Eden Hazard is the best player in the Premier League, Chelsea are the champions.
“It happened with me and Antonio Conte. And this season, it’s still the beginning of course, but if he’s the best player in the Premier League until now, which I think he is, Chelsea are at the top of the league because he’s the kind of player who can make a huge difference.”
During the international break, Hazard spoke of his desire to work again with Mourinho, a feeling which is shared by the Portuguese.
But Mourinho said there was little point in entertaining the idea, because he is convinced there is no way Chelsea would
sell Hazard to United. “I would love to have him at United, but I don’t think Chelsea will sell him to United, so it’s not a problem,” he added.
“Chelsea is led by intelligent and experienced people in football and they would never sell Eden to United, so there’s no point to comment.”
Mourinho returns to Chelsea with United eighth in the table after three defeats in their opening eight games and his future still far from secure.
The Blues, unbeaten this season, are favourites, but Mourinho, who enjoyed two spells at Chelsea, said he will not lose control if United score or win. “Would I celebrate like crazy, my team’s goal at Stamford Bridge or my team’s victory at Stamford Bridge? I don’t think so,” he said.
“I’d try to control myself and to respect the stadium and fans that were my fans and stadium for many years. “To do it would be something where I completely lost my emotional control, which is not easy, so I’d think which stadium I am in and which public is in the stands, but apart from that it’s another match for me.
“I want to do well for my team, players, support, I am 100 per cent United tomorrow, no more space than respect for the stadium and the fans.”
Mourinho has been given an extension until Wednesday to respond to an FA misconduct charge over alleged offensive comments he made into a TV camera lens in the immediate aftermath of the Newcastle win.
Asked if he felt victimised, he said: “If I answer your question I’ll probably have another process, because I cannot imply bias, so my answer is no answer.”