Chelsea
boss Jose Mourinho believes he is a better manager than 10 years ago - and
plans to continue until he's in his 70s.
At 52, Mourinho is relatively middle-aged as a Premier League manager, with
Sir Alex Ferguson retiring in 2013 at the age of 71.
Asked if he would stay in the job for as long as the likes of Arsene Wenger,
65, and Manuel Pellegrini, 61, Mourinho revealed that he has no plans to
stop for a while.
"I see myself going into the seventies," Mourinho said. "Not for ever and
ever but while my health is good."
"It is a job where experience is very, very important. With players there is
a moment when their experience has a fight with their physical condition.
"With managers, no. Unless you lose your appetite then that is a different
story. But I see myself now better than I was ten years ago. I am in
evolution, not even in stability."
Chelsea have the chance to win the first silverware of the season when they
face Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday.
The last time Mourinho lifted the trophy was in 2005 but he has lost none of
his appetite after clinching another Premier League title last season.
"Being champion doesn't change me for bad, it changes me for good and
hopefully with the players it is the same thing," Mourinho said.
"I want them to feel good not bad. Because we won last season, we do not
have space for failure. In pre-season we did well in terms of responsibility
in the work, discipline in the work, on the pitch, outside the pitch.
"The atmosphere is brilliant and the relations between the players is good
and between the players and me is good."
Mourinho's comments were echoed by Cesc Fabregas, who believes the Blues are
in an even stronger position going into the new season than they were 12
months ago.
"We have even more drive and determination than last season," said Fabregas.
"If we want to win we have to be more powerful to achieve things as other
teams are progressing.
"But we are confident and the coach believes in the squad. He didn't make
many changes so that means he is happy with us and we have to prove him
right.
"We have Radamel Falcao and Asmir Begovic as well as young players like Ryan
Bertrand and Victor Moses.
"So we have a good squad, fresh legs. We had a good rest - no Euros, no
World Cups, no nothing."
Chelsea are bidding to become the first side since Manchester United in 2009
to retain the Premier League title, and Fabregas knows how difficult it will
be to repeat the feat.
"This season Manchester United have invested very well, there is Arsenal and
Manchester City as well," he added. "It is very demanding as a league and we
have to be up for it.
"We know we have the quality. I can see in people's faces the same ambition
and drive as last year. I am not worried about it. I knew if that wasn't the
case the manager would change it.
"I just turned 28 which everyone says is the best age for a football player.
We'll see if that is true and I can have a good season.
"We want to do well because if you don't do well with this manager, you
don't play."
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