The Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho has said he would like to
see Greek champions Olympiacos qualify for the round of 16 at the
expense of London rivals Arsenal.
The controversial coach made this known while addressing newsmen after his team moved top of their group after a 4-0 whitewash over Macabbi Tel Aviv in Israel.
According to him, he hopes Arsene Wenger’s men fail to be eliminated, because his friend Marco Silva is in charge of the Greek club, Goal.com reports
Mourinho said: “I would always like English teams to qualify, first.
“Arsenal are in a group where a kid friend of mine is the manager of Olympiakos and it would be fantastic for the kid’s career to go through.
“So I have to be honest and say that I would like the kid and Olympiakos to go on, and we know that Bayern go through for sure.”
However the Chelsea manager believes Arsenal are capable of reaching the last-16, despite the odds against them having lost on all three previous visits to Olympiacos.
He said: “The reality is that Arsenal can still do it. Arsenal can perfectly go to Athens and win.
“Even having a bad group phase – because to lose at home to Olympiakos and to lose in Zagreb and to lose six points they should win is bad – they can qualify.
“It’s not my problem, it’s their problem, but the reality is that first of all they can qualify, and secondly if they go into the Europa League then they become favourites to win.
“So I think they can have success in the Champions League by going to the next round and they can succeed in the Europa League because then they become favourites, so I think they have a lot to play for.”
Mourinho’s remarks comes after Arsene Wenger had promised that his team can complete their Champions League fightback after setting up a win-or-bust showdown in Athens.
Wenger’s side will need to better Olympiakos’ 3-2 win at the Emirates to go through on the head-to-head.
The controversial coach made this known while addressing newsmen after his team moved top of their group after a 4-0 whitewash over Macabbi Tel Aviv in Israel.
According to him, he hopes Arsene Wenger’s men fail to be eliminated, because his friend Marco Silva is in charge of the Greek club, Goal.com reports
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| Marco Silva, coach of Olympiacos |
Mourinho said: “I would always like English teams to qualify, first.
“Arsenal are in a group where a kid friend of mine is the manager of Olympiakos and it would be fantastic for the kid’s career to go through.
“So I have to be honest and say that I would like the kid and Olympiakos to go on, and we know that Bayern go through for sure.”
However the Chelsea manager believes Arsenal are capable of reaching the last-16, despite the odds against them having lost on all three previous visits to Olympiacos.
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| Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger clash |
“Even having a bad group phase – because to lose at home to Olympiakos and to lose in Zagreb and to lose six points they should win is bad – they can qualify.
“It’s not my problem, it’s their problem, but the reality is that first of all they can qualify, and secondly if they go into the Europa League then they become favourites to win.
“So I think they can have success in the Champions League by going to the next round and they can succeed in the Europa League because then they become favourites, so I think they have a lot to play for.”
Mourinho’s remarks comes after Arsene Wenger had promised that his team can complete their Champions League fightback after setting up a win-or-bust showdown in Athens.
Wenger’s side will need to better Olympiakos’ 3-2 win at the Emirates to go through on the head-to-head.
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