Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes that Real Madrid and Barcelona would struggle to replicate their dominance in the Premier League, reports the Daily Mail.
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The Portuguese managed Los Blancos for three years between 2010 and 2013, winning the Spanish top flight with a record 100 points, 121 goals, and 32 wins in 2011/12. He has also won the English top flight three times, including a record points total of 95 in 2004/05.
Having experienced such success in both divisions the 53-year-old has come to the decision that Chelsea have a harder time of it than their European counterparts. There have been complaints in the past that the El Clasico rivals are too far ahead of the rest of the league. However, Atletico Madrid’s championship win last year seemed to have proved that wrong.
He said: “I was in Spain, but I didn’t enjoy. I didn’t enjoy it because I won a title with a record in Spain with 100 points and 121 goals, but we played only three or four matches all season. I lost a title with 92 points, but again we played only four or five matches in the season.
“You feel the pressure that you have to win every match because if you don’t you are not champions. You have to win and win and win. But it is a big, big gap between the giants and the others. In matches in other countries you can win matches when you are resting. In Spain and in Italy, I won lots of matches resting.”
He continued: “Where you can think, ‘what next’. Where you can think which European game is coming, where you can rest players. This season I rested a few players against Bradford and I lost against Bradford. And that is English football. You are winning 2-0 and if you concede a goal you know you are going to have hell for the last few minutes and you might draw 2-2 and lose two points.
“This is the reality of the Premier League. You have no time. It’s not just about the number of matches, it’s the intensity. And it’s not just physical intensity, you feel the intensity mentally. I think the difference between the two leagues [Premier League and La Liga] is huge. Would they [Barcelona or Real Madrid] win the Premier League? Maybe yes. Maybe not.”
This season the former Inter Milan boss has guided the Stamford Bridge outfit to the league title with three games to spare, demonstrating their dominance over the top flight. However, they may find it much harder next time round with Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United all expected to improve.