and his view of the standard of play in MLS was no different as he prepares his two-time English Premier League champion to face the MLS All-Stars in the league's midsummer classic, set for Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
"What I really enjoy when I come here and I play is that they always play with a very good tactical approach," Mourinho said. "They play like they are the same level you are. Of course, they aren't, but the way they play -- by a tactical point of view -- is like they want to play really top quality football.
"So, when they have an improvement in individual terms, the tactical approach of the game is very, very positive, is very enthusiastic. The pace of the game is very high. By the physical point of view, they look, always, very, very sharp, and the matches are really competitive and enthusiastic."
A year ago, Mourinho's charges came to the United States to play a series of games, including one against then-defending MLS Cup champion D.C. United at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. The English club encountered a stout U.S. team, which took the lead shortly after the half-hour mark and had a majority of the possession but fell 2-1 thanks to a pair of Chelsea counterattacks.
Chelsea winger Arjen Robben was also on Monday's call. A halftime substitute against United a year ago, Robben provided an assist on striker Hernan Crespo's game-winner in the 56th minute.
"I already had a feeling last year," Robben said. "The football here is developing and I think the level is getting better and better, so I think we really can expect a difficult match. That's ... good for us, and also good for American football."
The lone MLS participant on the call was United forward Jaime Moreno, considered by some to be the best player in MLS history and a member of the RadioShack MLS All-Time Best XI. Moreno was in United's starting XI when Chelsea came to the nation's capital last year. For him, another opportunity to beat one of the top club's in the world is an opportunity to raise the profile of MLS.
"[Defeating Chelsea] will be a big step. It will mean we're definitely getting better," Moreno said. "Last year when we played them here, it wasn't an easy game. Definitely, they know that and they respect that."
At the same time that he said he gets tired of people claiming MLS is a substandard league, Moreno pointed out the U.S. top flight has a way to go before it will be on the same footing as top leagues abroad.
"We need more impact in the league. We need more TV; we need more everything," he added. "You get new players; you get young players who become stars. That's what we have right now in this league, and right now they have a good opportunity to show that."
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
