Jose hails ‘very good’ McCarthy

Jose Mourinho has picked out James McCarthy as a “very good” player of big potential and a fine signing for Everton, but feels Tottenham and Arsenal have performed best in the transfer market.

The Irish midfielder is expected to make his debut for the Goodison Park club today against Chelsea, who repeatedly scouted him over the last two years. When asked how Everton would cope without Marouane Fellaini, who was sold to Manchester United on deadline day, Mourinho made a point of praising the Belgian’s replacements.

“It’s a good question for Roberto [Martinez],” Mourinho said. “They have a good squad, still. They did very well in the last days of the market, got two very good players for midfield, different profile, different ages, different futures but Barry is a very good, experienced player, McCarthy’s a very good young player with big projection, so I think they did very well and, when you lose a player, very good of course, but you get two, I don’t think it’s a problem for them.”

Mourinho, however, described Tottenham as “kings of the transfer window” for their work in replacing Gareth Bale with seven quality signings, while also stating his “surprise” Real Madrid sold Ozil to Arsenal.

The Chelsea coach feels Arsene Wenger’s side are even greater title contenders than they were before but denies that was the reason he refused to loan Demba Ba to the Emirates.

“It’s just the market, opportunities, analysing the situation. Better for us that [Romelu] Lukaku went on loan and played every week than Demba. I think Demba and Fernando Torres give us great balances. [Victor] Moses went to Liverpool and they are also a team that fights for the title.

“Arsenal bought one player, but a real one, a top one. They’re better than last season.

“I am surprised [Real sold Ozil]. That’s football, that’s the market.

“Mesut left a big, big club but comes to the biggest league in the world and a club with big ambitions.

“For me, [Arsenal] were contenders without Mesut. They are now. When they lost to Aston Villa [3-1 on the opening day], I said, inside the club, it meant nothing because they have a good team and have since started winning some difficult matches. They’re contenders and Mesut is a fantastic player and so they are better.

“Tottenham lost the player of the season but bought incredibly and spent incredible amount of money. Despite losing Gareth Bale I think they have two teams and that’s fantastic.”

In a magnanimous press conference, Mourinho also said Manchester United were “better” than last season and praised the work of Liverpool and Manchester City — but declared his contentedness with his own squad.

“My squad very good squad too, very good squad with solutions in every position and great balance experienced players and young boys to develop. I think we will have a great Premier League.”

Mourinho also denied Chelsea would go back in for Wayne Rooney.

“The market closed. I would be happy if nothing happened in January. I spoke to the players yesterday. It was the first time with the final group and told them I most wish that in January everybody is happy, nobody wants to go and I’m happy and don’t want anybody. That would be a perfect situation.”

Samuel Eto’o, the 32-year-old Cameroon international signed from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala in the summer transfer window, is likely to start on the bench this evening.

“He has a natural appetite for goals and he will score a few goals for us and he will give us experience,” said Mourinho.

Mourinho also insisted Spanish midfielder Juan Mata, who has been left on the bench recently, had a future at Chelsea.

He said: “He is in the same plans as all the others. He’s a player I like very much. A player I trust a lot and who will fight for his position like everyone else, sometimes starts, sometimes on the bench, sometimes maybe he has not to be selected like everyone else.”

Everton boss Roberto Martinez has heralded his side’s return to action this week as a “fresh start” after finally seeing the transfer window close.

“We feel it is a fresh start for us,” said the Spaniard, whose side have drawn their opening three Barclays Premier League games.

“The moment the window closed it felt a completely different environment around the football club.

“There is a real focus, it seems somehow the season starts now.”