Right on cue Jose............

[Guest]

Hardly a surprise but the Times have left out bit of the Mourinho interview where he isnt actually having a go at Liverpool or Rafa but in fact complimenting us.

He doesnt say anything which isnt true, we should be challenging for the title and that players such as Gerrard and Carra talking about winning the league is what you want to hear.

Heres what he said about us in full.

JOSE MOURINHO'S promise to chill out was shattered when he took a swipe at Rafa Benitez - claiming Liverpool will be under massive pressure to win the Premiership title.

Liverpool boss Benitez has spent big this summer, splashing out £40m on Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun after being given a huge budget by American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

And that was enough for Mourinho to drop his "mellow" approach.

The Chelsea boss said: "In their fourth season with Benitez, they want the Premiership.

"They don't hide. Benitez, the players, they all speak about getting the Premiership.

"I can say the pressure is a bit higher because at this moment they cannot point at other clubs spending money whereas before they could say: 'look at those guys - they spend loads of money'.

"These guys have to win because they spent lots of money. This season they go onto the pitch with a different outlook.

"They have high responsibilities and high expectations, whereas in the last three years only Chelsea and Manchester United have won the title between us.

"But Liverpool and Arsenal, especially Liverpool, have a new pressure to win the Premiership.

"I read in the summer that Steven Gerrard, Carragher and maybe even Riise saying they must win this season, it has to be this season.

"I think that is good. It's positive and it's what everybody wants and it's what we want too.

"I think last season was frustrating for them - they won nothing. But they always have a good group, good players, so I think they'll be better."

Mourinho is clearly determined to play mind games with Benitez and ramp up the pressure on the Spaniard


I hate Mourinho as much as the next man but in all fairness he hasnt done much wrong this time.

I've always liked him and I think he's a great manager, who sticks by his players through thick and thin. If I was a player getting this sort of backing, I'd be going through brick walls just for him.

José strength's are fantastic man management. I think he's second to none in this league as regards to that.

[Howard_lfc]

Hardly a surprise but the Times have left out bit of the Mourinho interview where he isnt actually having a go at Liverpool or Rafa but in fact complimenting us.

He doesnt say anything which isnt true, we should be challenging for the title and that players such as Gerrard and Carra talking about winning the league is what you want to hear.

Heres what he said about us in full.

JOSE MOURINHO'S promise to chill out was shattered when he took a swipe at Rafa Benitez - claiming Liverpool will be under massive pressure to win the Premiership title.

Liverpool boss Benitez has spent big this summer, splashing out £40m on Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun after being given a huge budget by American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

And that was enough for Mourinho to drop his "mellow" approach.

The Chelsea boss said: "In their fourth season with Benitez, they want the Premiership.

"They don't hide. Benitez, the players, they all speak about getting the Premiership.

"I can say the pressure is a bit higher because at this moment they cannot point at other clubs spending money whereas before they could say: 'look at those guys - they spend loads of money'.

"These guys have to win because they spent lots of money. This season they go onto the pitch with a different outlook.

"They have high responsibilities and high expectations, whereas in the last three years only Chelsea and Manchester United have won the title between us.

"But Liverpool and Arsenal, especially Liverpool, have a new pressure to win the Premiership.

"I read in the summer that Steven Gerrard, Carragher and maybe even Riise saying they must win this season, it has to be this season.

"I think that is good. It's positive and it's what everybody wants and it's what we want too.

"I think last season was frustrating for them - they won nothing. But they always have a good group, good players, so I think they'll be better."

Mourinho is clearly determined to play mind games with Benitez and ramp up the pressure on the Spaniard


I hate Mourinho as much as the next man but in all fairness he hasnt done much wrong this time.

I agree Coop.

[desertscouser]

Mourinho is a complete cock.

[dom9]

"in what could be the most competitive season since the formation of the Premiership in 1992. "

The media say this every year, and every year it turns out the same.

[Guest]

Mourinho is a complete cock.

He probably is, as is Fergie, but he's still bloody good at managing their team. Rafa still has to prove it in the PL, and this time he may run out of arguments if we're not successful as he has seemingly bought his first choice players.

'Cock' Maureen has rightly put the pressure on him and Fergie, he's a 'cunning' fella.

[dww]

"in what could be the most competitive season since the formation of the Premiership in 1992. "

The media say this every year, and every year it turns out the same.

Very true. I think this season though there are more quality players in the league. I think there has been too much upheaval though for it to be a competetive league in any true sense this season. I think a lot of teams will be very inconsistant.

I think it is important for us that our core team from last year performs from the start and allows us to play our new players in to form. Hopefully the fact we have a very solid defence and central midfield carried over from last season will allow us to hit the ground running.

I honestly think this season we should be guarenteed a top three finish if we play anywhere near our potential as Arsenal have lost nearly all of their experienced players and Spurs have a lot to do in terms of team mentality before they make the step up.

On the Mourinho thing I think his quotes this time seem perfectly fair. If we don't challenge for most of the season at the very least then most on here will be upset. I still think that Rafa is right to say that United and Chelsea have had the levels of investment for much longer and therefore are the teams with the highest level of expectation. All managers do the same in terms of putting the emphasis on the pressure on other teams though surely?

[Flake]

cue.

[Skillz]

It pays to remember the media do pick and choose which quotes to use for the sole purpose of causing headlines. This is a clear example and when you read what Moaninho says there is little to complain about.

Having said that he is snide prick and he knows we are unlikely to be ready to win this year and is applying pressure early. If we have any sort of early blip he will come in again.

I wouldnt worry to much about his comments though because he has met his match well and truly in Rafa when it comes to the media and you can be sure any pointed remarks from JM before our meeting next month will be met with an even better response.

Jose does have a chip on his shoulder over us and Rafa will exploit it but only when appropriate. Jose unfortunately cant even wait for the season to start, the tosser.

[desertscouser]

He probably is, as is Fergie, but he's still bloody good at managing their team. Rafa still has to prove it in the PL, and this time he may run out of arguments if we're not successful as he has seemingly bought his first choice players.

'Cock' Maureen has rightly put the pressure on him and Fergie, he's a 'cunning' fella.

As if his bull **** comments have put pressure on Rafa. Nonsense Fredo. Everyone knows Rafa's net spend is far from being extravagant and that's what ultimately counts.

Mourinho is a COCK

[Dhav]

I would love to get inside Mourinho's mind and see what is going on in there, because no doubt whatever it is it's certainly not turning right in his head.

What is obvious to me is this guy is absolutely obsessed with us. I really don't see the logic in him coming out with these statements at this time. All summer we've been hearing from know-all pundits that only Man U and Chelsea are title contenders, yet Jose feels the need to score psychological points against us before the season has even begun.

Curious.

[Morph]

He's covering his bases so he can say all along he knew we'd be contenders if we are up there, or if we aren't than he can save this for future use when we beat them in a semi final next season

[Gazzla]

I wish this Portugese ****er would buy some shampoo to wash that revolting mound of grease on his head, ditch that ****ing Matalan jacket and after he has done all that simply **** off.

I can't stand this scruffy ****face

[shelly]

Poor Jose... he feels unloved obviously..
Everything about him re Liverpool shows one thing -he's jealous as hell of Rafa. For being LFC manager- (the job he himself really wants); for being successful (doubt he's forgotten those trophies we won included brushing them aside)

most of all I think he's hurt by the fact that people nowadays only regard him as the man who won the prem and can't win the CL by spending loads, not the one that won the CL with porto with no money. He does not get the respect that Fergie gets.. It's not like he has no spent loads either now is it?

The problem with Jose is that Abramovich's actions has reflected badly on him... after all Ranieri didn't win the prem after spending a ton of money did he? So given that he is a sore loser and an insecure little cock, he has to strike out at others by pointing out: "See? see? he's spending loads too!" And we get it the most because he fears us the most, simply, I think, because he realises that the playing field has become more level, and that Rafa is capable of optimising whatever budget he has to recruit the best players for our team.

[CJ]

I quite like the moaning one. If anyone thinks he believes half or even a quarter of what he says then you are being silly. I think he goes a bit too far but he really backs his players and i think it pays off for him, thats why he managed to keep alot of players happy for two years.

Also look at some of the comments shanks made and tell me how they are any better than some of the things jose comes out with

[carrsim]

Just stating the obvious really. If we sign Heinze Rafa's spending will go north of 140M in less than 4 seasons which is a rather large sum of money - more than half of New Anfield.

I don't know a club in the world where a manager could spend that sort of cash and not be under pressure to win the title and LFC must be one of the few where we'd "settle" for a decent challenge.

140m is less than half of the expected 300m cost of the stadium

and its not 140m when sales are taken into account

rafa has had a lot to spend in his time with us- and often got his first choice player despite what many say.

and considering jose and rafa joined their clubs at the same time i'd love to see a comparison in spending and selling players on.

this summer they've signed players on frees- presumably therefore on good wages -and malouda who at 13.5m is still more expensive than all but 2 of both liverpool's (cisse and torres) and arsenal's (wiltord and reyes-maybe) record transfers of all time.

and with rafa recouping around 12-15m from the sales of bellamy, cisse and garcia the 20.2m for torres is not such a huge expense

rafa is and should be under pressure, but jose simply has to win the league or the CL this season to keep his job whereas that criteria doesn't apply to rafa yet