We can win the league again with Mourinho!

Chelsea have made their Premier League intentions clear just a week after the season ended and believe that with new management at main rivals Manchester United and  Manchester City they have a golden chance to take advantage. 

Although Chelsea will also be  making a new appointment, the almost certain return of Jose Mourinho means a familiarity that will not be repeated in Manchester. 

So believe David Luiz and Demba Ba, speaking in New York where they play City at the Yankee Stadium before returning home in the morning for a well-deserved break after a season that saw manager Roberto Di Matteo sacked, interim boss Rafa Benitez installed and an eventual Europa League triumph as well as a third place in the Premier League, despite his unpopularity with the Stamford Bridge fans. 

Special One: Chelsea players have faith that Jose Mourinho can make their side kings of England once more

Pure delight: Mourinho won the title twice with Chelsea back in the mid-noughties

 

‘We didn’t do a perfect job in the league, although we did qualify for the Champions League in the most difficult league in the world,’ said Brazilian Luiz who, with Ba and others, participated in a youth clinic at FC Harlem. 

‘I want to win titles at Chelsea and I want to have that feeling like others here at the end of the season when you take the trophy. 

‘Every year we have a chance because if you are a big club you have to think you can win everything. But next season I am confident, not just because of our squad but also because both United and City have had big losses. Both were great coaches and you have to think that the new man doesn’t do the same job. In our minds it’s a good thing.’

Ba agrees. ‘We’re pleased about the Europa League and Champions League spot ,but we could have done better in the Premier League. And the disappointment of this means we’re going to work very hard and get ready for the new season,’ said the Senegal striker. 

‘With or without Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini, United and City still have great players but we’re confident in what we can do next season.’

That said, Luiz only had praise for the departing Benitez, who took charge of Chelsea for the final time last night in New York.

‘When you have the character to be professional living with so much pressure, and when everything is against you, then that is amazing,’ explained Luiz who, on Benitez’s say, switched from central defence to midfield with great success. 

‘We won the Europa League and qualified for the Champions League because Rafa was so professional and is a fantastic coach. I learned a lot from him this season. I love working with a tactical coach like him and he taught me a lot.’

The second coming of the Special One fills him with similar excitement, though. ‘Everyone in football knows him. Many people say he’s great to work with. I follow football history and I know the history of Mourinho. He has huge credibility across the world and, of course, I’m excited when you are about to work with a very good coach.’

Strolling: David Luiz (centre) says he is thrilled that Mourinho will come to Chelsea

Ba, like Luiz, did not play under Mourinho the first time the Portuguese was in charge at Chelsea but he, too, cannot wait for the experience to start. 

‘I don’t know him but you see the way people talk about him, what he has achieved and the way he can turn a good player into a world-class player. If you work hard he helps you as your manager and gives you confidence. As a footballer that’s one of the most important things to have — confidence from everybody around you, and especially the manager. I guess he is one of those who can do this.’

Ba, who played alongside fellow Senegalese striker Papiss Cisse at Newcastle before he joined Chelsea in January, alternated up front with Fernando Torres, playing only once alongside the Spaniard, who has rediscovered his form in recent weeks. He hopes Mourinho will play both of them next season. 

Ambitions: Demba Ba (second left) is hoping to play alongside Fernando Torres next term

‘Fernando and I only played one game together, the last one,’ he said. ‘It had some good prospects and we showed some promising things. I believe it could work well. It was successful before at Newcastle, sometimes for Papiss Cisse, sometimes for me. Even though we didn’t score at the same time, we played good football together. It’s good to have a partner.’

The goal may be the Premier title which Chelsea last won in 2010, but Luiz is still proud of following last year’s Champions League triumph with the Europa League and could not resist a final dig at United before the rivalry begins again in August. 

‘It’s better to win the Europa League than be Champions League quarter-finalists,’ he argued. ‘It’s a trophy for the team and it’s a piece of history. 

One time: Torres played alongside Ba in the last game of the season but replaced him in St Louis against City

‘We are the first team ever to win the Champions League and the Europa League consecutively, so that’s an amazing achievement. You don’t count quarter and semi-finalists. You only count winning finals.

‘Manchester United did a great job in the Premier League this season but they didn’t win a European  competition and Chelsea won again.’