Jose Mourinho insists Barcelona and Real Madrid would struggle to win the Barclays Premier League.
Spanish football did not satisfy the Chelsea manager, despite winning La Liga in Madrid with a record-breaking 100 points and 121 goals in 2012, because it lacks England's competitive edge.
Jose Mourinho is adamant that Barcelona and Real Madrid would struggle to win the Premier League
Mourinho salutes the travelling fans at The Hawthorns after Chelsea's 3-0 defeat by West Brom
(Left to right) Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez celebrate after Barcelona were crowned champions
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo was part of the team that broke La Liga records under Mourinho in 2012
'I was in Spain, but I didn't enjoy,' Mourinho told talkSPORT. 'I didn't enjoy it because I won a title with a record in Spain with 100 points and 121 goals, but we played only three or four matches all season. I lost a title with 92 points, but again we played only four or five matches in the season.
'You feel the pressure that you have to win every match because if you don't you are not champions. You have to win and win and win. But it is a big, big gap between the giants and the others.
'I think the difference between the two leagues [Premier League and La Liga] is huge. Would they [Barcelona or Real Madrid] win the Premier League? Maybe yes. Maybe not.'
Despite no English clubs reaching the final eight of this season's Champions League tournament, Mourinho is adamant the Premier League remains the most demanding competition in Europe.
The 52-year-old used Chelsea's 4-2 defeat by League One club Bradford City in the FA Cup in January as a prime example of how there is always the possibility of an upset in the English game.
'In matches in other countries you can win matches when you are resting,' Mourinho continued. 'In Spain and in Italy, I won lots of matches resting. Where you can think, "what next?". Where you can think which European game is coming, where you can rest players.
Then-Real Madrid manager Mourinho pictured sitting on the bench ahead of a European tie
Real Madrid players toss Mourinho in the air after winning La Liga over rivals Barcelona in May 2012
Ronaldo holds up their trophy as he celebrates with team-mates after they won La Liga in 2012
'This season I rested a few players against Bradford and I lost against Bradford. And that is English football. You are winning 2-0 and if you concede a goal you know you are going to have hell for the last few minutes and you might draw 2-2 and lose two points.
'This is the reality of the Premier League. You have no time. It's not just about the number of matches, it's the intensity. And it's not just physical intensity, you feel the intensity mentally.'
Mourinho felt the power of the underdog on Monday night, too, when West Bromwich Albion beat his team 3-0 at The Hawthorns after Cesc Fabregas was sent off.
It did little to dampen the Portuguese manager's mood, however, as he approached the travelling supporters at full-time and showed his appreciation.
Mourinho felt the power of the underdog on Monday night when West Bromwich Albion beat Chelsea 3-0
Chelsea lost 3-0 at The Hawthorns but had already been crowned champions of the Premier League
Chelsea were champions with three games to spare but Mourinho feels the club did it the hard way