Euro break helps Chelsea ambitions

JOSE Mourinho has spoken of the "position of privilege" enjoyed by Antonio Conte during his first season at Chelsea as the Manchester United manager prepares to face his table-topping former club in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Last season went disastrously for the west Londoners, with the reigning champions' abysmal Premier League title defence costing Mourinho, the most successful manager in the club's history, his job at Stamford Bridge for the second time.

DISCORD

Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo cited "palpable discord with the players" - many of whom have found their mojo again under summer appointment Conte.

The Italian's arrival has inspired the Blues to a fine campaign that sees them 10 points clear at the summit, although Mourinho has again highlighted how failing to qualify for Europe has aided their charge.

United, by contrast, last week made a 3,750-mile round trip to face Russian side Rostov in the Europa League - hardly the ideal preparation for tonight's FA Cup showdown.

"The most difficult thing to have is time to work, and they have time to work," Mourinho said when asked how hard it is to win the league in your first season.

"I know that he said a couple of days ago or a couple of weeks ago that it's not his fault that they are not in the European competitions.

"It's my fault and the players' fault, but the reality is that he got in his hands a situation where they have time to work, time to rest, time to relax, time to disconnect, time to travel, time to have holidays, time to go to America and enjoy America for a couple of days.

"They have time for all of these things, so they are in a position of privilege - the same privilege that Liverpool had a couple of years ago and they almost won the Premier League - but I don't want to say that they don't deserve credit for it.

"They choose a certain style of play that I think is very adapted to the qualities of these players.

"They defend a lot and well.

"They also counter attack and kill opponents on the counter attack similar to my Chelsea.

"But the difference is they play with five at the back and I played four at the back, but the same criteria: a very strong team to defend and a team that kills on the counter attack, and they are doing very, very well and that is why they are going to be champions easily."

Mourinho has a striker headache for the big Cup clash at Chelsea after Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney joined the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the sidelines.

It is understood Rashford is missing through illness, while Rooney picked up a knock in a training collision.

The news leaves United with no recognised strikers in their travelling party.

High-flying Chelsea, in contrast, have a fully fit squad available.