He may have left Chelsea over six months ago but Jose Mourinho has been unable to resist having another dig at Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea’s Champions League semi-final.
The bad feeling between the two managers is well known and has stemmed from a number of incidents that have occurred in matches between Liverpool and Chelsea, when Mourinho was in charge of the Blues.
According to Mourinho, Liverpool must win something this season to justify Benitez’s summer spending. With the Champions League the only silverware the Anfield side can get their hands on this season, his message is clear.
“Chelsea spent about £20 million on signings for the season, while Liverpool spend £27 million on one player” he has been quoted as saying referring to Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, signed from Atletico Madrid in the summer.
Mourinho, himself was accused of buying success for Chelsea whilst in charge of the London club, due to the massive amounts of money owner Roman Abramovich made available to his manager. However he has responded by throwing that accusation back at Benitez.
“Will they say Benitez brought success?” he says in a clear dig at the Liverpool manager, who managed to defeat Mourinho the last time the clubs met in the Champions League.
“Liverpool have to try to win the cups, because the investment in the team has to have a return,’ he says also referring to Liverpool’s other signings this season which include buying Javier Mascherano for £18 million and Ryan Babel for £13.5 million.
Mourinho also suggests that should Liverpool fail to beat Chelsea, after spending so much this season, that Benitez’s might find the pressure at Liverpool could become too much for him and, “that pressure can become intolerable.”
As a man relieved of his duties at Stamford Bridge, after being unable to deliver the Champions League to Chelsea despite massive investment, it should be a topic he is familiar with.
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