I dont think Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are the favorite to win UCL - Mourinho

Jose Mourinho insists Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are not the favourites to win this season's Champions League. Chelsea are set to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Parc des Princes on Tuesday in the first-leg of their second round tie in Europe's most prestige competition as they look to maintain a strong campaign this season.

However, Madrid, the reigning world and European champions, along with 2012-13 Champions League winners Bayern, are said to have one of the strongest cases to win the competition this year.

However, the Portuguese coach believes none of the 16 teams currently in the tournament can be ruled out just yet.

"I don't agree at all that they're favourites, because the Champions League always has space for surprises," he told reporters.

"You go through the last decade and see teams winning the competition who you expect to win, but you also have teams you don't expect to win. You can balance it almost 50-50.

"You have three or four teams people would not be expecting. I really don't know the candidates when it goes to the knockout stage. At the moment there are 16 candidates for me."

Diego Costa, who has not played for the Blues since last month's League Cup semi-final victory over Liverpool, having served a three-game suspension for stamping on Emre Can, is expected to start in midweek, but Mourinho is worried about his sharpness.

"Yes, I will start him, but I don’t think it’s good for a player to go three matches without starting a game," he added. "I don’t think he's in the best condition. 

"But at the same time Loic Remy and Didier Drogba played in the last three matches. It’s obviously important for them to get minutes and have confidence and I know I have them both ready."

The Blues boss also refused to clarify whether Thibaut Courtois would regain his starting spot in goal against PSG after replacement Petr Cech produced an impressive performance against Everton on Wednesday.

"Courtois doesn’t know if he will play or not, so I can’t tell you. He has to hear it from me, not from the media. 

"But I repeat, Chelsea has the two best goalkeepers in the Premier League, and for me it’s an easy job. I’m very happy with both. Every time one plays the team is very confident because they know they have a top goalkeeper."

culled from goal.com