Jose Mourinho calls Manchester City deserving Premier League winners and talks about Chelsea's next season squad

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has stated that Manchester City are deserving winners of the Premier League title.

The Portuguese ended trophyless this campaign after Chelsea finished four points behind champions Manchester City. His side came from behind against Cardiff City to win 2-1 in their final game of the season.

Mourinho recognized City’s credentials as champions while pointing out Chelsea’s losses against Aston Villa and Sunderland, which made them suffer in the title race.

“I believe so,” the Special One said after he was asked about City’s triumph.

“They are champions. They have four more points than Chelsea, two more points than Liverpool.They are not guilty of Aston Villa-Chelsea and Chelsea-Sunderland, it’s nothing to do with them. They deserve (it).”

“I never did (finish third). It’s the first time. Third position is not a drama.It’s a position we have to accept in this transitional period. You can’t click your fingers and success arrives. This season it almost happened, but, for the last time, Aston Villa-Chelsea and Chelsea-Sunderland make it more difficult,” he added.

Mourinho, who will be presenting the end-term report to Chelsea club officials on Monday, also promised that his team will be ready to challenge for the title next season.

“Next season, if we do our work in a successful way during the summer market – I know the club is trying to do everything to make that period a successful period for us – I want to start day one saying that we are going to fight for the title.”

“We need to improve and we don’t run away from that responsibility.The club will not run away from responsibility of bringing a couple of important players to us.”

“(And) I will not run away from my work to keep developing the team,” Mourinho added.

Mourinho has also insisted that there won’t be many changes to his squad next season and he hopes to retain the services of Blues veterans John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole all of whom are currently out of contract. Cole, who has been at the club for eight years, is reportedly trying to head out of Stamford Bridge.

“I don’t know, but I don’t think so,” the Portuguese said when asked about the situation of Cole.

“He was not the captain to say goodbye in a nice way, he was the captain because he was the player on the pitch with more years of Chelsea.”

“I think he will be at Chelsea.I don’t know, I cannot say.”

“The summer is a long summer. I can’t believe that my next Premier League match I have to wait for three months. During these three months a lot of things can happen,” added Mourinho.

The Blues manager also discussed about the future of his present attackers, mentioning the need to bring in a new striker.

“Samuel Eto’o will finish his contract with the club so the normal situation is that he is leaving. We want to bring in a striker. Fernando and Demba (Ba) have contracts and have different situations. I am happy with them.”

“(It is) no problem for me that they stay at the club if they are happy and committed,” he ended.