"Chelsea Are Not Champions League Favourites"- Jose Mourinho

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has downplayed his team’s chances of lifting a second Champions League trophy in as many seasons.

The Portuguese tactician was speaking ahead of Wednesday’s final Group E match against Steaua Bucharest at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are already through to the last 16 of the 2013/14 competition and a victory against the bottom-placed Romanians assures them of finishing top of the group, thereby avoiding Europe’s big names in next week draw.

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“We are not considered one of the favourites to win. The favourites in my opinion are Bayern Munich because they are the current winners and have the same players, new manager and unbelievable stability,” says Mourinho.

“Barcelona, Real Madrid too- these teams are clearly in front.”

Chelsea failed to reach the last sixteen of the same tournament last season, but went on to win the Europa League under the tutelage of Spaniard, Rafael Benitez.

Ten-man Mourinho’s ‘Blues Family’ lost to Bayern 5-4 on penalties, after finishing regulation time tied two-goal apiece in August in the UEFA Super Cup.

That result was followed with a goalles draw at struggling Manchester United in the Premier League. League Cup win over Arsenal at the Emirate stadium and victory over Manchester City in the league means the Stamford Bridge club has fared so well against the ‘so-called’ big teams so far in the ongoing season.

But their domestic title credentials have suffered a lot in the hands of the prospective ‘top fours’ and the ‘giant killers’, while Champions League counterparts, Basel, won home and away against the side.

While it’s been an unpredictable Premier League season, the former Real Madrid manager thinks Europe’s title race could be too close to call.

“But any one in the last eight can win. It is an interesting competition as always,” he added.