Jose Mourinho has dismissed critics of his Chelsea team after they secured the Premier League title.
The self-proclaimed “Special One” led Chelsea to his third Premier League title with Sunday’s 1-0 defeat of Crystal Palace.
But even as they were lifting the trophy, Chelsea were still being branded “boring” not only by opposing fans but also by some pundits.
“It doesn’t bother me – it doesn’t change me,” Mourinho told BT Sport of the criticism. “I’m stronger than that. I know what it takes to be in the position we are. It doesn’t affect me. I think the players deserve more.
“I think it’s a bit strange. Normally a pundit with a higher voice is the pundit that comes from the pitch – a former player, a former legend, somebody that was a fantastic player, so somebody who has a complete understanding of what it takes. It’s strange when these people don’t go in the direction they should go.”
The title is Mourinho’s eighth across four different leagues, having won two with FC Porto in Portugal, two with Inter Milan in Italy and one with Real Madrid in Spain, while this is his third with Chelsea across two stints in charge.
Sir Alex Ferguson won a record 13 Premier League titles with Manchester United but although Mourinho is only one year older now than the Scot was when he won his first in 1993, the Portuguese dismissed the idea of ever matching him.
“I have a long way to go, but Sir Alex left the bar in an impossible position for anyone. I cannot win 13 Premier Leagues,” he said.
“I can win 13 championships. I can. I have eight, I think I can go to 13. But 13 Premier Leagues, no, no chance.”
Asked if he planned on staying in England long enough to reach that target here, Mourinho added: “When I came back, I put myself in Abramovich’s hands. My family is super happy to be here, so I have nothing to push me away from England. It’s up to him. When he wants me to stay I stay, when he thinks it’s the right moment for me to leave I’ll go somewhere else.”
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
