Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho does not want to emulate Rafa Benitez

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The Portuguese manager is not keen on the Europa League.

Chelsea get their Champions League campaign under way this evening with a fixture against Bundesliga side Schalke 04.

Chelsea made it to the semi-finals of the competition last term and Mourinho of course has great pedigree in the competition.

He has won the trophy with both FC Porto and Inter Milan and this term he wants to finally complete his dream and win the trophy with his beloved Chelsea.

And he has made it clear that he will not settle for anything else but Europe’s premier competition.

In words that will not please Rafa Benitez, the unpopular manager who led Chelsea to Europa League glory in 2013, Mourinho said this of the Europa League as a competition:

“At the moment I only think about not playing Europa League. I want my club to succeed in the group phase. It would be very bad for the evolution of my team and for the evolution of the young players to go to the Europa League.

“Also for the club and its prestige, Europa League is not Chelsea.”

Chelsea are one of the favourites for this season’s competition. Judging by the way they started the Premier League season and the excellent business Mourinho has performed in the transfer market they certainly have a great opportunity of becoming Europe’s number one.

They can begin that journey in earnest with the visit of Schalke this evening.