Mourinho rules out transfer splurge


(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists the Premier League champions have no plans to make significant additions to his squad, revealing that he is relishing the prospect of mounting a title defence with the same set of players.

Apart from the arrival of striker Radamel Falcao and the departure of goalkeeper Petr Cech, Chelsea have been largely inactive in the summer transfer window while rivals such as Manchester United have spent heavily.

And although Chelsea continue to be linked to a move for Everton's English defender John Stones, Mourinho is adamant there is no chance of the club making a major splurge in the transfer market.

"In this moment we don't want players," Mourinho said.

"Of course we must be ready because the market is open and if someone comes for one of our players with a bid, we must be ready to act."

Mourinho confirmed the club was likely to offload defender Filipe Luis and would seek a replacement.

"We need a left back because I think we will sell Filipe Luis, so we need to go to the market. But other positions we have no space."

While the likes of Manchester United have bolstered their squad with an array of high-calibre signings including German World Cup-winner Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin, Mourinho insists he is happy with what he has.

Asked if he was targeting the Champions League this season, he replied: "It's not my main objective. I have only one objective - to win tomorrow.

"I have no other objectives other than to improve, improve and improve.

"It's a nice challenge to improve with no new players. I think the players we have are happy because the club trusts them.

"We are saying 'You are the champions, we trust you, we believe in you.'"

Mourinho revealed Chelsea's coaching staff were focusing instead on trying to make the team more "unpredictable".

"We have exactly the same players, the squad and the team is basically the same," Mourinho said.

"We are just going to try and add some things we are competing against teams who are going to be better because of the money they've spent. A team that buys one, two, three or four players and spends 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 million is going to improve.

"So we have to improve what we have already. We are trying to give them some new qualities, try to be a little bit more unpredictable and go through the season with high motivation."

Chelsea, who are basing themselves in Montreal for the duration of their pre-season tour, play their opening game against the New York Red Bulls in New Jersey today.

They play Paris Saint-Germain in Charlotte on Saturday before winding up the tour against Barcelona next week in Washington.

Meanwhile, Mourinho has backed Didier Drogba to make a success of a move to Major League Soccer after reports linking the Blues legend to a career swansong in North America.

Several MLS teams are reportedly in the hunt for Drogba, with the Montreal Impact and Chicago Fire the front-runners after opening talks with the 37-year-old Ivory Coast striker.

Drogba has been a free agent since his contract with the English Premier League champions expired at the end of last season following a second stint at the club.

Mourinho gave any would-be MLS suitor a glowing reference about the forward as he spoke to journalists in Montreal ahead of Chelsea's opening game in their US tour here Tuesday.

"I think he's the perfect choice," Mourinho said.

"If I owned a club - I don't and I never would - I would immediately think about a player like him, a man like him, to be the center of the club universe," Mourinho said.

"He's very strong in the dressing room, he's very strong in his image. He's a great example of a club man."

Mourinho revealed Drogba had turned down the chance to work at Chelsea as a coach after his playing career came to a close.

"The fact that he didn't accept to stay with us and that he decided to say he wants to enjoy his football for two more years, it's the best answer," Mourinho said.

"If it comes from him it's because he feels in great condition for two more years."

Drogba scored seven goals in 38 matches during his second spell with Chelsea, for whom the African has served during four league title runs, four FA Cups and a Champions League crown.

Drogba departed Chelsea in 2012 after eight years in London, playing in China and Turkey before rejoining Chelsea last season.


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