FOOTBALL : Ricardo Carvalho claims the current Chelsea side is stronger than the title-winning team put together by Jose Mourinho five years ago.
Ricardo Carvalho claims the current Chelsea side is stronger than the title-winning team put together by Jose Mourinho five years ago.
Mourinho guided Chelsea to their first league win in 50 years in 2005 with a side that lost just once in 38 games and conceded only 15 goals. The current Chelsea team of Carlo Ancelotti have already lost twice this term but have been installed as title favourites having opened up a five-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League.
Carvalho, who was signed by Mourinho in 2004, told the club’s official website, www.chelseafc.com: “In this moment we are an improvement even from that first year here under Mourinho.”
He added: “Of course then we were compact and everyone was fighting, but now I think we have more quality in the squad maybe. Or at least different players, playing in a different system and style.”
Chelsea are also through to the knockout stages of the Champions League while Carvalho’s Portugal have qualified for next summer’s World Cup.
“Things are good for everyone,” Carvalho said.
“We are playing well and not conceding goals, we are top, and also we have qualified for the World Cup, so everyone in my life is happy.”
