Chelsea
manager Jose Mourinho has described Bayern Munich as the “perfect team”
as he prepares to do battle again with Pep Guardiola in Friday’s UEFA
Super Cup showdown.
Ex-Barcelona coach Guardiola leads
European champions Bayern into Friday’s showdown at Prague’s Eden Arena
against Europa League winners Chelsea, with former Real Madrid coach
Mourinho in his second stint with the Blues.
Under Guardiola’s predecessor Jupp
Heynckes, Bayern swept aside their rivals last season to become the
first German club to win the European, German league and cup titles, a
feat that proved their perfection, according to Mourinho.
“They have come off a season where they
showed they were the perfect team, because to win the treble, only
perfect teams can do that,” said Mourinho.
“I think Bayern’s strength is the team, they are a ready-made product.
“It’s a team with players in the best moment of their career.
“I don’t have the exact figures, but
their average age must be late 20s, guys like (Arjen) Robben, (Bastian)
Schweinsteiger, (Mario) Mandzukic, (Franck) Ribery, Toni Kroos is a bit
younger, but they are all very experienced.
“Year after year, they are playing in the best competitions.
“I think that is their quality, they are an incredible footballing power and they have the personalities of a fantastic team.”
Mourinho left Madrid in June to return
for a second stint at Chelsea and the Portuguese grew prickly when asked
about his renewed rivalry with Guardiola, who took charge at Bayern in
June having won 14 titles in four years at Barcelona.
When the inevitable Guardiola question
came up, Mourinho fell silent and pointed to his white shirt, the same
colour as Real’s famous jerseys, and especially the Chelsea badge.
“It’s white, but it’s Chelsea – if you
have questions about Chelsea, I am here until 4pm, if you want to ask
questions about Real Madrid or Barcelona, I am not here,” he said,
having succeeded Rafael Benitez, who steered Chelsea to last season’s
Europa League triumph against Benfica.”
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