Messi, Neymar and Fabregas but Manchester City face 'worst Barcelona team in years', says Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has ramped up the pressure on Barcelona after launching a stinging attack on the Catalans ahead of their trip to Manchester City.

The Chelsea boss, who saw his side lose at the Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup over the weekend, claims the current Barca crop are the worst for 'many, many years'.

While Gerardo Martino's men haven't drawn clear in La Liga - enduring a three-way battle for the title with Real and Atletico Madrid - they still possess one of the most-revered squads on the continent.

They travelled to Manchester on Monday morning ahead of the Champions League last-16 first leg. Despite surrendering their European crown to Bayern Munch last season, they are still considered favourites to win it in Lisbon.

'Of course by history Barcelona is the favourite, but this Barcelona, this season, is showing that it is not the same in previous years,' Mourinho told ITV. 'Of course they have (Lionel) Messi, he is special, and they have more than him.

'But I think this is the worst Barcelona of many many years, so City have a chance.'  Mourinho appeared more placid on the return to the Blues last summer but has been back to his prickly best in recent weeks.

The Portuguese has picked on City's spending and Arsene Wenger's fragility in a bid to win what are perceived to be 'mind games' in the race for the Premier League title.

Now he has opted to go for Barcelona. Even though a club almost untouchable in recent memory, cracks have formed since the departure of Pep Guardiola. They lost away at Ajax in November and endured a shock 3-2 defeat against Valencia at the Nou Camp earlier this month.

Although Mourinho's comments serve as a dig at Barca, they inadvertently heap unwanted expectation on Pellegrini ahead of Tuesday's meeting.

This is generally considered City's major opportunity at stamping a mark on Europe, and the manager said over the weekend: 'I don't have any fear about playing Barcelona, because this team has got to continue to develop the mentality to play against important, important teams, whether that's in the last 16, the quarter-final.

Compared with the Pep years I think he is right, but I'm not so sure compared with the past season. In any case the season is only halfway through and how good it is will be determined by the results we achieve.

We are doomed. I hope City have mercy and stop after 3 goals.

Who honestly cares what Mourinho says these days, grandpa is senile and boring.

Donuts wrote:Who honestly cares what Mourinho says these days, grandpa is senile and boring.

Thats why someone needed to open a thread based on only his remark!  

i would like to list some of the comments so that i can enjoy them after win....

Manchester City have a chance of progressing in the Champions League against "the worst Barcelona for many years" --------------Mourinho

Barcelona less dominant nowadays -------- Wenger

Barcelona no longer CL favourites ---------- Lahm

Well he cant say last years team was worse, after all we won the league and his team had to fight for second place.

Plus the comment wasnt really about it, it was about City.

Another piece of bs by the low lamer trying to talk up his achievements over other manager's, boring.

Thread for this? Although he's not wrong.

The worst Barca team in years was last year's Barca and they took the league from his Real Madrid..

The Franchise wrote:Well he cant say last years team was worse, after all we won the league and his team had to fight for second place.

Plus the comment wasnt really about it, it was about City.

Exactly. This way if City win "they only won against the worst Barca in years" and if City lose "LOL they lost vs the worst Barca in years". Classic trolling technique.

Agree with Franchise and BC. It was aimed at Pellegrini. He want to undermine any success he might have against Barca. Mou does not care about Barca, not now at least since we are no direct competition to Chelsea, but City is. Mou is pragmatic and will choose the fights he thinks he can win and benefit, this time it is City as BC explained.

The Franchise wrote:Plus the comment wasnt really about it, it was about City.

El puto jefe