Five Premier League teams are in the group stages for the first time as Europe’s top club competition kicks off a new campaign tonight with Manchester United manager Mourinho and Chelsea boss Conte insisting they are all at a disadvantage to their Continental rivals.
Mourinho says the competitive nature of the Premier League title race means teams cannot rest players towards the end of the season like his former club Real Madrid or Conte’s former club Juventus.
And although Mourinho loves the hectic Christmas and New Year fixture schedule, he believes the absence of a mid-winter break is a handicap to English clubs.
As United prepared for their return to the competition against Basel at Old Trafford, Mourinho said: “The only thing I can say is that last season Real Madrid played the last month in La Liga with their second team. They could do it. They arrived in the Champions League with a fresh team.
“And because they were champions in Italy three months in advance, Juve could play the last month with their second team and arrive fresh for the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final of the Champions League.
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“For English teams normally that’s impossible because usually the competition [for the Premier League title] goes very strong until the end.
“There is no winter break. In other countries there’s a winter break but that’s cultural. It means a lot here. I know it goes against us but I have to admit I love the English Christmas period of football.
“Then there is the fact that we have to play many times two days before the big matches in Europe when other counties protect their clubs. For example, Benfica play on Fridays in Portugal, in Italy they also do that, and sometimes it happens in France and Germany.”
Conte, too, admits there is no space to breathe as he tackles the Champions League alongside the relentless demands of the Premier League.
With a domestic clash with Arsenal looming on Sunday, Conte is considering dramatic changes to his team for tonight’s Group C opener against minnows Qarabag – with Eden Hazard and £70 million new boy and top scorer Alvaro Morata possibly being left on the bench.
Conte said: “For me, this is something new. My previous experience [of the Champions League] was in Italy. To be realistic, this is not easy.
“English teams have difficulty in the Champions League because the league is very tough here. You play a medium team in England in the league, you can lose. There are six or seven teams in this league fighting for the title. You are never relaxed in England.
“You have to play a tough league and then two cups. To play 60-65 games at a high level is normal here, but it is not easy. In Italy before Champions League games I rested players. In England it is very difficult. You risk a lot. But we must rotate all the squad and when you do that there is always a risk..
“If you win it was the best decision, if you lose it was the worst. I must be realistic and calm and try to make the best decision for these six games. To play every three days is not easy.”
Michy Batshuayi is expected to come in for Morata, and Pedro may also be brought in, with skipper Gary Cahill also returning, with Eden Hazard again on the bench.
Mourinho will make two changes because Phil Jones and Eric Bailly are both suspended. Chris Smalling and summer signing Victor Lindelof will step in for their first starts since the UEFA Super Cup defeat to Real Madrid a month ago.