Mourinho Rues English Clubs Poor Start to the Champions League
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, was delighted that Chelsea made a winning start to their Champions League campaign on Wednesday, but said he was not happy that other English representatives had all lost their matches in this season’s competition.
Chelsea, despite their poor domestic start, cruised to a 4-0 win over Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv at Stamford Bridge, and became the only English team to win after Manchester City were beaten 2-1 by Juventus and Manchester United lost 2-1 to PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.
Mourinho Rues English Clubs Poor Start to the Champions League
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Arsenal were also beaten 2-1 at Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday.
“I think it is sad and bad and I am not happy about it,” said Mourinho.
“I want Man City, Man United and Arsenal to lose in the Premier League but I don’t want them to lose in the Champions League.
“It is not good for us. Season after season, it is difficult for English teams to be successful. At the start of the week if you can make 12 points (with all four winning) and you make only three, that is bad news.”
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Although the group stage has only just started, English clubs’ records in Europe’s top club competition in recent seasons has been patchy and could impact on how many teams get spots in the tournament.
The top three clubs in the Premier League advance directly to the following season’s group stage, while the team finishing fourth enters the playoffs.
No English club has won the Champions League since Chelsea in 2012, which was also the last season an English club reached the final.
None reached the quarter-finals last season and the EPL’s right to four places could come under threat in two years’ time from Italy, their nearest challengers in the coefficient table, who currently provide three teams for the competition.
The Champions League will be back again in a forth night, where Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal will have the opportunity to redeem themselves.
