We won’t care if no one likes us, says Mourinho

CHELSEA boss Jose Mourinho has insisted he would not be concerned if Chelsea became the most disliked club in England - as that would only make them even stronger.

And he warned that critics who questioned his side’s style and potential should “be worried” as he prepared to face the Porto side which he led to Champions League success.

Mourinho has so far found that, due to the millions spent at Stamford Bridge, the plaudits have not been in plentiful supply so far this season.

Indeed, even though Chelsea are unbeaten in eight games, they have endured criticism for their perceived negative tactics in scoring just seven goals in seven Premiership games.

However, Mourinho would have no qualms if his squad replaced Manchester United as the team which endured the most antipathy among rival fans in England.

“I’m not worried about that,” he insisted ahead of tonight’s eagerly- awaited clash against his former club.

“If you are an unpopular team because you don’t feel the sympathy or credit you think you deserve, sometimes it makes you a stronger group. My group is really strong. Every single player wants to work for the team.

“When a team that is just three months old is playing like we are and getting the results we are getting, then I’m not worried. The people who don’t like us to win have to be worried - not us.”

As for the lack of goalscoring in the Premiership, Mourinho, whose side won their opening Champions League group tie 3-0 at Paris St Germain, said: “Ask anyone if I am a defensive manager and they know I’m not.”

The Champions League was nevertheless won last season as much due to Porto’s ability to retain possession as their attacking prowess, even if they beat fellow outsiders Monaco 3-0 in the final.

Mourinho has since brought not only his backroom staff but also Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira with him to Stamford Bridge, although the £33million raised by their costly purchases has enabled Porto to rebuild completely.

So much so, that the likes of Diego, Luis Fabiano, Helder Postiga and Giorgios Seitaridis were all added to a squad which still contains Costinha, Maniche, Jorge Costa and Vitor Baia.

However, Nuno Valente is injured, playmaker Deco has left for Barcelona, and having changed coach twice since Mourinho left, Porto have won just one of their five games this season.

Indeed, Mourinho warned they faced a huge task in attempting to defend the trophy which they won last season after clinching the UEFA Cup 12 months earlier.

“It will be very difficult. There are four Spanish teams, two or three Italian sides and four English clubs, there are the 11 or 12 top teams in the world,” he said.

“Porto are in the middle of this powerful group but they have to fight against everybody and they have to get the nine points to get through to the knock-out stage.

“As European champions, everyone wants to beat them, just like everyone wants to beat a team like Chelsea because of the players we have and the power we are showing.”

Mourinho was reluctant to draw comparisons between Porto and Chelsea, while he also tried to dim the spotlight on his own central role in tonight’s drama.

“Reaching the final was the end of a process, while at Chelsea, we are at the start of that process and I cannot compare that to a team of two years,” he stressed.

“It’s not the first time that I’ve faced an ex-team. When I was at Porto, I played against Benfica and Barcelona - teams where I had a lot of friends.

“One day I will play against Chelsea and the feeling will be the same - not special. During the game, it is just one more match.

“Before and after the game, you will of course talk to people that you like but during the match, you have to concentrate on your target - to get the points.”

Not that his over-riding aim in life is to be liked, it seems.

Success is his main aim. Indeed, in a recent interview, Mourinho remarked that “in Portugal, people don’t like me”.

He concluded: “It depends on the people. If the Porto fans at Stamford Bridge are pure supporters, they cannot forget what I did at the club.

“But when I was the Porto manager, Benfica supporters hated me as we won everything. That’s life, that’s football.”

Or as he reportedly told one Portuguese interviewer last year: “Whoever loves me, will love me more. Whoever doesn’t love me, will love me even less. I’m not going to change ...”

Chelsea (probable): Cech; Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Bridge; Tiago, Lampard, Makelele, Duff/Cole; Drogba, Gudjohnsen.

Porto (probable): Vitor Baia; Bosingwa, Jorge Costa, Pepe, Ricardo Costa, Costinha, Maniche, Alberto, Diego, Quaresma, Fabiano.

Referee: H Fandel (Germany).