Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has backed old nemesis Jose Mourinho to make a successful return to Chelsea but insists Real Madrid will not be weakened by the departure of the ‘Special One’.
Mourinho quit the Bernabeu recently before returning to Stamford Bridge and Messi, who first crossed swords with the Portuguese coach during his first spell with the Blues, believes he will be just as successful second time around.
The Argentina captain also expects his club’s arch rivals to be as competitive as ever in the Primera Liga next season after Real brought in Carlo Ancelotti to replace Mourinho.
“I think the Spanish league is difficult anyway and will continue being difficult,” said Messi, who visited the Senegalese town of Saly yesterday as part of the Aspire Academy’s Football Combating Malaria project.
“We’ll be fighting against strong teams with great players like Real.
“Mourinho was a great coach but we know Ancelotti is equally great.
“I think Mourinho will also succeed back at Chel-sea because he’s a great manager.”
Barca recently acquired Neymar from Santos after a long pursuit, with some commentators suggesting the Catalans may struggle to accommodate both Messi and the Brazilian forward in their XI.
Messi, though, has no such concerns.
“I know Neymar is a great player who is going to bring a lot to Barcelona,” he said.
“God willing, we will be able to play together at Barca.”
Former Barca coach Pep Guardiola will take over at Bayern Munich next season hoping to build on the German side’s superb campaign last year, which saw them easily win the Bundesliga and also lift the Champions League.
Messi believes his old boss will make the Bavarian outfit even stronger.
“I think the arrival of Guardiola will make Bayern stronger,” Messi said.
“Winning the Champions League is always difficult and our objective is trying to win and succeed in all competitions.
“That’s how we work at Barcelona. You talk of Germany dominating football recently – I don’t know what is going to happen in the future.
“I know Germany have a history of great teams in global football. Winning the Champions League is difficult for anyone, whether they are from Germany or Spain.
“But I know Germany had a great year last season.”