Old rivalries aside, Jose Mourinho can’t see why Arsenal should be a threat to Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League title race.
Jose Mourinho thinks Manchester City are the top pick to keep their Premier League crown because they have a deep squad.
The current Roma boss rates Liverpool as City’s strongest threat in the title battle. He doesn’t think Arsenal have a good chance, but still wants to see last season’s runners-up join the race for the top spot.
17 games into the 2023/24 campaign, it’s Arsenal who lead the way with 39 points in the standings. Liverpool trail by one point in second place, while City languish a further four points back in fourth.
“Man City 51 [per cent] and Liverpool 49,” Mourinho told ex-Chelsea star John Obi Mikel on the ‘The Obi One Podcast‘ on which team he reckons will win the Premier League.
When quizzed about Arsenal’s chances, Mourinho quipped: “Na.”
This blunt comment about Arsenal made Mikel laugh, with the Nigerian saying: “The rivalry is still there!”
In response, Mourinho added: “But it is not the rivalry… it isn’t the right moment [for them].
“Honestly, rivalry apart because I can do it, I would like them to win, I would like a third [team in the title race].
“Of course, Chelsea is not going to win it, that’s out of the question, so I don’t think about Chelsea.
“Of course, Manchester United is not going to win it, I don’t speak about Man United either, so it’s going to be these three. Out of these three, I would be happy for Arsenal to do it.
“I would be really happy to [see them] break a little bit that thing, but I think it’s 51-49 [between City and Liverpool]. I say 51-49 because when the accumulation of matches is coming, Man City has two teams!”
Mourinho is one of the most successful managers in Premier League history. He oversaw 363 games in charge of Tottenham, Manchester United, and Chelsea, winning 217 games (D84 L62), between 2004 and 2021.
He won the league title three times with Chelsea in 2004/05, 2005/06, and 2014/15.
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