Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho dismisses Antonio Conte complaints: Chelsea still favourites

JOSE MOURINHO has laughed off Antonio Conte’s claim that Chelsea are weaker following their controversial sale of Nemanja Matic to Manchester United.

Jose MourinhoDX

Jose Mourinho still thinks Chelsea are strong without Nemanja Matic

And despite all the pre-season problems at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho indulged in some early-season mind games by saying he still rates his former club as favourites to retain the Premier League title.

Conte has made it clear he is unhappy with Chelsea’s decision to allow midfielder Matic to join one of their title rivals even though they bought a ready-made replacement in Monaco’s Tiemoue Bakayoko, and are hoping to add Leicester’s Danny Drinkwater before the transfer window closes.

Mourinho said: “When people say, for example, Chelsea lost an important midfield player, if you lose one but you buy Bakayoko and Drinkwater for example, what’s the problem?

“The problem is when you sell and you don’t buy. When you sell and you keep buying, what’s the problem? You are probably even stronger.

“I think every top team in the Premier League is strong enough with the financial situation to be fighting for everything.”

Ray Wilkins blasts Chelsea for selling Matic to Man United

For me the favourite is the champion

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho

Mourinho also refuses to accept the want-away transfer dramas involving Diego Costa at Chelsea, Alexis Sanchez at Arsenal and Philippe Coutinho at Liverpool will have an impact on the title race, because solutions will be found by the end of the transfer window.

He added: “Does it give us an advantage? No. If they have problems now, the problems are going to finish in a couple of weeks because the market is closed and they don’t have problems any more.

"They all have very good teams, very good players and I don’t see any reason for them not to be fighting for the title. “

United and neighbours City have been installed as favourites but Mourinho attempted to apply the brake on the growing expectations at Old Trafford by insisting the tag should always be given to the reigning champions.

Jose MourinhoGETTY

Jose Mourinho insists Chelsea are still the Premier League favourites

“We’re not favourites,” he said. “We’re not the dream team, we’re just a team with more confidence than last season, with more time of work together, but I’m calm. For me the favourite is the champion. Always.”

Swansea manager Paul Clement, who welcomes Mourinho and his team to the Liberty Stadium for the lunchtime kick-off today, begs to differ.

United started the season with a 4-0 demolition of West Ham and will arrive in confident mood.

Clement said: “United will be contenders for the title. Their signings of Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic were powerful and they look so strong, particularly in the midfield and front positions. They are strong on the counter and disciplined defensively.

“They may not have the flair of some of the other more fluid passing teams, but they are very functional and it will be a hard game for us.”

Romelu LukakuGETTY

Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic are two of Man Utd's top signings this summer

Clement is set to hand £11million summer signing Roque Mesa his competitive debut but captain Leon Britton is struggling with a back injury.

“United have started well and brought in some good players, but we are confident because of what we did last season and our record against them is quite encouraging,” Clement said.

“We are looking forward to it and expect a really good atmosphere. The players feel good at the Liberty at the moment. That is the big advantage of being at home, you have the impetus of the crowd behind you.”

Meanwhile Mourinho, who wanted either Ivan Perisic or Gareth Bale, doesn’t expect to sign the wide attacking player he has been looking for in this window but says Anthony Martial is good enough to fill the position and won’t be sold.

“I have faith in him. As a pure attacking player, Anthony is a good player. I believe he’s one of the players who is going to have a better season this season than the previous season.”

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