Mourinho tips City for Champions League success

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho believes Manchester City will win the Champions League “sooner or later”.

Before Tuesday’s match in Madrid, the former Chelsea manager compared the investment made at City to that at Stamford Bridge under Roman Abramovich.

He said: “I don’t know if it is this season or next season – with Roberto Mancini or with another person.

“But normally, with the direction the club is going, sooner or later they will win the big cup.”

Mourinho delivered two Premier League titles at Chelsea but was unable to add the Champions League – which he has won with Porto and Inter Milan – to the club’s trophy cabinet.

Chelsea eventually won the trophy last season under Roberto Di Matteo and Mourinho is confident that City too will conquer Europe.

He said: “I don’t think it is very different to Chelsea.

“Since Roman bought the club, (Claudio) Ranieri was the first coach, then I came and we won the first league, some cups and some more titles.

“Carlo (Ancelotti) then came and they continued to win and finally they won the Champions League.

“With City it started off with Mark Hughes, they started spending money and buying good players.

“Then Roberto (Mancini) came and he has done a very good job. He has created a great squad, the first cup then the first title arrived.

“It will happen sooner or later.”

Mourinho questioned his side’s spirit after they fell eight points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona at the weekend but he says he will not make wholesale changes for the visit of Mancini’s men.

He said: “The line-up will not be very different, it will be the best that I consider to play, full of players of the highest level.

“I don’t believe I have created doubts. The principal person responsible is me.

“When my teams win, we win together, and when we lose, I am the one responsible.

“Football is about today and tomorrow, not yesterday. Yesterday is history.

“I haven’t been able to keep my players motivated and concentrated at the top level and that is my fault.

“To play against City motivates me as much as playing against Getafe. To win the Champions League motivates me like any other match.”