The Mourinho Thread

[Henrique 9,133]

José Mourinho’s return to dark side highlights deep malaise at Chelsea | Richard Williams

We live in a volatile age, our judgments blown this way and that by the slightest scrap of evidence. A cracking victory for Chelsea at home against Liverpool on Saturday would bring a swift halt to weeks of speculation about the causes of the apparent meltdown at Stamford Bridge. Suddenly there would be much calculating of the results needed to carry José Mourinho’s team back into the top four by the end of the season.

Lying 15th in the Premier League, with 11 points from 10 matches, Chelsea require an average of 2.1 points from each of their remaining 28 fixtures in order to match the 70 points that secured the final Champions League slot for Manchester United last May. In Mourinho’s three title-winning seasons at the Bridge, the averages were 2.5, 2.4 and 2.3. So if he can persuade his players that their season starts here and now, the target should be within reach.

Despite an improved performance in defeat against Stoke City in midweek, however, it is hard to imagine Chelsea losing their persistent misfire overnight and going from a stuttering second gear to peak revs in sixth without a pause. The collective collapse of form suggests a malaise with deeper roots.

Eden Hazard’s decisive failure from the penalty spot at the Britannia Stadium on Tuesday seemed every bit as significant as the improved performances from several of his team-mates in the preceding 120 minutes. It is hard to believe that had the reigning player of the year been taking that kick this time last season, the ball would not have found its way past Jack Butland.

Even before his team lost to Arsenal in the Community Shield on 2 August, Mourinho appeared to have entered the new season in a darker mood, as if the recaptured title had to be defended with a spikier combativity off the pitch as well as on it. The man who returned to England two years earlier, proclaiming his new mellowness and maturity, was back in his familiar toxic mode, spraying poison at an increasingly random series of targets.

Six days after the defeat at Wembley came the row with Eva Carneiro and Jon Fearn. The two senior members of Chelsea’s medical staff were disciplined by Mourinho for obeying the instincts of their profession – as well as the referee’s instruction – rather than the dictates of gamesmanship by entering the pitch to treat the injured Hazard in the closing minutes of the first league match of the season against Swansea City, with Chelsea already down to 10 men and on the brink of dropping points. Carneiro has become a cause célèbre, like the Reading ambulancemen so irresponsibly and inaccurately criticised by Mourinho after Petr Cech suffered a serious head injury during a match at the Madejski Stadium in 2006.

Another target, however, is not random at all. For Mourinho, Arsène Wenger is a rival who must not only be brought down but held down. He must be poked and prodded constantly, his weaknesses held up to insult and ridicule.

Mourinho uses the Frenchman like a scratching post, as something on which to sharpen his claws. Amusing to some, this one-sided feud provides a regular supply of back-page headlines. But what kind of achievement is it to provoke a man like Wenger, whose 19 years in north London have brought great benefits to the English game as a whole, into losing his composure and his dignity?

Wenger can look after himself, of course. Whatever the justice of the complaints made against his recruitment policy by Arsenal’s fans in the seasons since their last Premier League title was won, he has presided over a period of consistent achievement and progress for his club on and off the pitch.

The same could never be said for Mourinho, whose priorities are different and more selfish. His failure to supervise any sort of successful pathway from the club’s well-endowed academy to its first-team squad is a significant blemish on his record. Despite recent promises, there is no sign that he can do anything to rectify it.

In terms of trophies, the only currency in which he deals, Mourinho ranks among the great coaches of football history, his achievements in Portugal, Italy and Spain perhaps even outshining his successes in England. Eight league titles in 13 seasons in four different countries cannot be denied and his treble-winning season with Internazionale was genuinely historic. But apart from at Porto, which was only ever a stepping stone to the highest level, it never ends well. The cloud of sulphur in which he envelops his adversaries eventually escapes his control and chokes him, too. When he departs, there is a sense of relief among his employers.

Perhaps this time will be the exception and a faltering project can be revived. Faced with the challenge of Liverpool, who are now led by a manager hoping to emulate the sort of impression Mourinho made first time around, Chelsea’s players may rediscover the qualities that took them to the title, while their manager sets aside the feuds that waste emotional energy and rededicates himself to the task of drawing the maximum from his squad. But through a catalogue of recent errors – the rejection of Kevin De Bruyne and André Schürrle, the failure to sign John Stones, the willingness to let Cech go, the reliance on defensive midfielders such as Mikel John Obi and Nemanja Matic who are not fit to lace Claude Makélélé’s boots – he has made the process harder.

There was always something not quite right about his second coming at Stamford Bridge. Whatever his protestations, he would have regarded it as his manifest destiny to be the man to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford. That door was locked then and is likely to remain so, whatever the future holds for Louis van Gaal. Mourinho’s departure from west London, when it comes, is most likely to be followed by an offer to succeed Laurent Blanc at Paris Saint-Germain, where the salaries are paid by the Qatar Investment Fund.

We know Mourinho has a soft spot for the legend of Brian Clough. But would he ever be ready for the sort of challenge that Clough accepted in 1975, taking on a team lying 13th in the second tier of English football and leading them to the very summit of the European game? Imagine him accepting Kuwaiti money to replace the apparently imperilled Dougie Freedman at the City Ground, with Forest currently lying 17th in the Championship. That would be a real test of his talents, even greater than the one he faces now.

[iceboy 992]

Just watched his PC not a single question for "PRESSURE" or something like that FUNNY.

[lucio 5,386]

Even longer read

https://anthonyduhig.wordpress.com/2015/10/09/chelsea-a-campaign-of-complacency-and-crisis/

best piece of writing, I've read since the hobbit.

[iceboy 992]

This is the forum that wants to see our club in bad situation lool. It's non sense to comment here. Always same people same opinions same negatives members.

[Tomo 21,681]

Yes, and the fact that this one is adds pressure and changes the whole situation. Also having a bad run in the middle of the season means that at least the team has showed that it can play decent football. For us this season there has been no sign that we can improve or that we are heading in an upward direction.

Not always, 10-11 we were riding our luck from the get go and it ran out mid November in spectacular style. Even in 12-13 we weren't very convincing despite winning well till THAT United game, only time in the 3 years between the double and Mous return we looked good performance wise was the early stages of AVB and a couple of isolated periods under Rafa.

Even if the performances don't improve, we have far too much quality in this squad for results not too sooner rather than later, I'm not saying this hasn't been shit or we aren't in the doghouse because it has and we are, but look at Liverpool and Spurs last season, both were average at best and diabolically bad at worse but finished 6th and 5th respectively, over a 38 game season cream will always rise, at absolute worst we will finish 6th, maybe 7th if there's a Newcastle 11-12, Everton 13-14 style surprise package but below that? Won't happen.

[Tomo 21,681]

José Mourinhos return to dark side highlights deep malaise at Chelsea | Richard Williams

We live in a volatile age, our judgments blown this way and that by the slightest scrap of evidence. A cracking victory for Chelsea at home against Liverpool on Saturday would bring a swift halt to weeks of speculation about the causes of the apparent meltdown at Stamford Bridge. Suddenly there would be much calculating of the results needed to carry José Mourinhos team back into the top four by the end of the season.

Lying 15th in the Premier League, with 11 points from 10 matches, Chelsea require an average of 2.1 points from each of their remaining 28 fixtures in order to match the 70 points that secured the final Champions League slot for Manchester United last May. In Mourinhos three title-winning seasons at the Bridge, the averages were 2.5, 2.4 and 2.3. So if he can persuade his players that their season starts here and now, the target should be within reach.

Despite an improved performance in defeat against Stoke City in midweek, however, it is hard to imagine Chelsea losing their persistent misfire overnight and going from a stuttering second gear to peak revs in sixth without a pause. The collective collapse of form suggests a malaise with deeper roots.

Eden Hazards decisive failure from the penalty spot at the Britannia Stadium on Tuesday seemed every bit as significant as the improved performances from several of his team-mates in the preceding 120 minutes. It is hard to believe that had the reigning player of the year been taking that kick this time last season, the ball would not have found its way past Jack Butland.

Even before his team lost to Arsenal in the Community Shield on 2 August, Mourinho appeared to have entered the new season in a darker mood, as if the recaptured title had to be defended with a spikier combativity off the pitch as well as on it. The man who returned to England two years earlier, proclaiming his new mellowness and maturity, was back in his familiar toxic mode, spraying poison at an increasingly random series of targets.

Six days after the defeat at Wembley came the row with Eva Carneiro and Jon Fearn. The two senior members of Chelseas medical staff were disciplined by Mourinho for obeying the instincts of their profession as well as the referees instruction rather than the dictates of gamesmanship by entering the pitch to treat the injured Hazard in the closing minutes of the first league match of the season against Swansea City, with Chelsea already down to 10 men and on the brink of dropping points. Carneiro has become a cause célèbre, like the Reading ambulancemen so irresponsibly and inaccurately criticised by Mourinho after Petr Cech suffered a serious head injury during a match at the Madejski Stadium in 2006.

Another target, however, is not random at all. For Mourinho, Arsène Wenger is a rival who must not only be brought down but held down. He must be poked and prodded constantly, his weaknesses held up to insult and ridicule.

Mourinho uses the Frenchman like a scratching post, as something on which to sharpen his claws. Amusing to some, this one-sided feud provides a regular supply of back-page headlines. But what kind of achievement is it to provoke a man like Wenger, whose 19 years in north London have brought great benefits to the English game as a whole, into losing his composure and his dignity?

Wenger can look after himself, of course. Whatever the justice of the complaints made against his recruitment policy by Arsenals fans in the seasons since their last Premier League title was won, he has presided over a period of consistent achievement and progress for his club on and off the pitch.

The same could never be said for Mourinho, whose priorities are different and more selfish. His failure to supervise any sort of successful pathway from the clubs well-endowed academy to its first-team squad is a significant blemish on his record. Despite recent promises, there is no sign that he can do anything to rectify it.

In terms of trophies, the only currency in which he deals, Mourinho ranks among the great coaches of football history, his achievements in Portugal, Italy and Spain perhaps even outshining his successes in England. Eight league titles in 13 seasons in four different countries cannot be denied and his treble-winning season with Internazionale was genuinely historic. But apart from at Porto, which was only ever a stepping stone to the highest level, it never ends well. The cloud of sulphur in which he envelops his adversaries eventually escapes his control and chokes him, too. When he departs, there is a sense of relief among his employers.

Perhaps this time will be the exception and a faltering project can be revived. Faced with the challenge of Liverpool, who are now led by a manager hoping to emulate the sort of impression Mourinho made first time around, Chelseas players may rediscover the qualities that took them to the title, while their manager sets aside the feuds that waste emotional energy and rededicates himself to the task of drawing the maximum from his squad. But through a catalogue of recent errors the rejection of Kevin De Bruyne and André Schürrle, the failure to sign John Stones, the willingness to let Cech go, the reliance on defensive midfielders such as Mikel John Obi and Nemanja Matic who are not fit to lace Claude Makélélés boots he has made the process harder.

There was always something not quite right about his second coming at Stamford Bridge. Whatever his protestations, he would have regarded it as his manifest destiny to be the man to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford. That door was locked then and is likely to remain so, whatever the future holds for Louis van Gaal. Mourinhos departure from west London, when it comes, is most likely to be followed by an offer to succeed Laurent Blanc at Paris Saint-Germain, where the salaries are paid by the Qatar Investment Fund.

We know Mourinho has a soft spot for the legend of Brian Clough. But would he ever be ready for the sort of challenge that Clough accepted in 1975, taking on a team lying 13th in the second tier of English football and leading them to the very summit of the European game? Imagine him accepting Kuwaiti money to replace the apparently imperilled Dougie Freedman at the City Ground, with Forest currently lying 17th in the Championship. That would be a real test of his talents, even greater than the one he faces now.

It's the biggest myth in football he wanted the United job, Fergie has poured frozen water all.over that.

He might be interested in the future if circumstances were right but I don't believe for a second he was actively after it.

[didierforever 7,349]

disagree actually...because normally a load of negative stuff gets reported from them.

It was decent and straightforward today bar a couple of poor attempts by journo's to get Mourinho to say something controversial.

Injuries update

Costa and Pedro latest

Ramires contract

A bit about Jurgen Klopp, liverpool and Man Utd

and club not received anything ref Eva.

nice and simple and straight to the point

i can only hope that this PC wont be the highlight of chelsea fans' weekend

[Muzchap 8,966]

This is the forum that wants to see our club in bad situation lool. It's non sense to comment here. Always same people same opinions same negatives members.

That's why it's called a 'forum' you express ideas.

I was Jose's biggest defender last season and defended him against people saying we play shit football - my reasoning was that he needed the PL title to get the monkey of Madrid off his back and then unleash us into an unstoppable force.

Sadly my hopes and dreams, as so often in life have disappeared like a fart in the wind.

So with some healthy balance of perspective (because I took on the negativity surrounding our play, lack of rotation etc) I started this season with plenty of hope, but my eyes firmly open.

What has happened thus far is way above my worst case scenario - but shit happens.

I think Jose is a good manager for a couple of seasons. I don't believe he can sustain his management style for longer. The craziness is strong in him at the moment - maybe the extra stress of his Dad has pushed him too far? Who knows?

However - he is an employee of Chelsea - the team I support - through thick and thin.

Nobody enjoys our current predicament - despite the churlish comments pertaining to this. The need to vocalise frustrations stems from hurt and annoyance (sure @Stingray can eloquently cover this part)

But to blindly state 'in Jose we trust' without accepting any modicum of the fair, levelled criticism - is just frankly delusional.

The cracks are clear to see.

The situation does not look as simple to resolve, the same tired excuses are rolled out week by week, until they form a mantra.

Am I happy to apologise to each and every one on this forum if we go on an unstoppable run and pick up a CL place and even a trophy - HELL YES - because you see for me it's a no lose situation - if Jose recovers and does well - Chelsea benefit.

I don't mind apologising for being wrong - you won't find me blaming other people.

But until I DO need to apologise - I shall be vocal (unless banned) against what I see as the unnecessary implosion of MY football club, due to one man and his EGO.

Happy Halloween ?

[iceboy 992]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/jose-mourinho-not-lost-dressing-6736551

Good column

[Fernando 6,375]

This is the forum that wants to see our club in bad situation lool. It's non sense to comment here. Always same people same opinions same negatives members.

Don't think so, but if that's the way you see it.

I repeatedly stated many times that I don't want Mourinho for long term manager. I don't like his vibe or style.

I said many times that every manager, and I mean every manger will have bad season.

So I don't mind supporting a manager in a bad season, just that I don't like this guy for long term.

But ultimately it all boils down to the board and owner. If they really believe that Mourinho is the guy for long term, the image they want the club to be with for the next decade then good.

If that's what they want then support the guy, but not just with words but also with actions.

Not sacking him now is a good action, but also support in the transfer window for players that Mourinho might want.

Give the man a bit more power if you want him for long term.

It will never work if you limit the manager to certain things and expect him to do everything good. At least for long term that is, a manager that will stay here for more then 5 years need greater powers into how to handle the club.

[Muzchap 8,966]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/jose-mourinho-not-lost-dressing-6736551

Good column

Yet another story about the 'dressing room not being lost'

There seems to be a lot of those recently

Maybe they doth protesteth too much...

Losing the dressing room would certainly account for some of the poor form. It's probably not irrecoverable - if anybody could recover it - chances are it would be Mourinho. He just needs to find something else to focus their anger on - instead of him.

Liverpool could be that catalyst

[Henrique 9,133]

He said he cannot guarantee the top 4 finish. Thats something you would expect from a mediocre manager from a mediocre team.

Pretty pathetic.

[Pizy 17,860]

He said he cannot guarantee the top 4 finish. Thats something you would expect from a mediocre manager from a mediocre team.

Pretty pathetic.

No, it's just common sense and the absolute truth.

How bad would he look if he did guarantee it and failed? He/we would never hear the end of it.

Anyways, after distancing myself from football for the most part for the last week and not thinking about all the shit that's been going on, I've changed my mind and hope like hell that we stick with him no matter how bad it gets this season. The club would look even worse (if that's possible) if we sack him.

Reevaluate the situation in the summer and see if Pep is possible, but no way in hell should we sack him mid season.

[Rhino's Skin 972]

i can only hope that this PC wont be the highlight of chelsea fans' weekend

well I am sure it wont be....and the match, win, lose or draw will be.

But its all part of the build up to the match and a lot of supporters look forward to hearing about team news , and other relevant issues etc etc.

[zolayes 14,489]

This is the forum that wants to see our club in bad situation lool. It's non sense to comment here. Always same people same opinions same negatives members.

yet the negative members DONATE to the running costs of the forum while the positive ones hold on to their cash ...

[Rhino's Skin 972]

Oh no...!!!!!!!! Thats put the mockers on it all. Even Robbie Savage is turning out in favour of Mourinho.

Whether you love him or loathe him, Mourinho is pure box office and if he gets the sack the game has officially gone mad

It's absurd, absolute madness, if Jose Mourinhos job is on the line.

Nothing brings out the bandwagon-jumpers faster than a big-name manager under pressure, and sometimes I wonder if people in this country really want to see the best players and best coaches working here?

Unless we are careful, just as Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale all turned their backs on the Premier League for one reason or another, we will drive out some of the most charismatic figures in the dugout as well.

Whether you love him or loathe him, Mourinho is pure box office and if he gets the sack the game has officially gone mad.

Ive seen Chelseas last three games and there is no way not a cat in hells chance that he has lost the dressing room, as the saying goes.

They should have banked a Champions League away win in Kiev last week, they deserved a point at West Ham after dominating with only 10 men on the pitch, and they battered Stoke in the Capital One Cup only to lose on penalties.

Sure, the Special One has made mistakes this season, like the unnecessary public spat with his medical staff.

And although he may have become a bit paranoid about refereeing decisions going against Chelsea, some of his complaints like the penalty they should have been awarded in Kiev have been fully justified.

Its not Mourinhos fault that Thibaut Courtois suffered a bad injury, Branislav Ivanovics form has collapsed, Cesc Fabregas has looked a shadow of the player who made such an impact last season, Diego Costa reported back for pre-season training overweight and Eden Hazards performances have dipped.

Mourinho has gone out of his way to show loyalty to players who have let him down so why should he not enjoy a bit of loyalty from owner Roman Abramovich?

If his players are allowed to go through spells of indifferent form and results, Mourinho should be afforded some leeway in recognition of everything he has achieved for Chelsea.

In the past, Abramovich has fired Roberto Di Matteo six months after he won the Champions League and Carlo Ancelotti a year after he won the title but in the end, all trails led him back to Mourinho.

Who would do a better job than Jose if Chelsea got rid of him now? Where are the viable alternatives?

Ancelotti is available, but I dont see Abramovich going back to him.

And if Pep Guardiola was ever going to land at Stamford Bridge, I think it would have happened by now.

Lets get real: Mourinho is still the best man for the job. I still think Chelsea will go furthest of all the English clubs in the Champions League this season, and I wouldnt rule them out of winning it.

And if Mourinho is on the brink, as so many people seem to insist, then why are the fans still on his side?

When a manager is in trouble, listen to the supporters. If the soundtrack is booing or open dissent, its usually just a matter of time before he walks the plank.

But I dont hear any hostility towards Mourinho from his own flock.

I still think he will get the best out of Chelsea and they will finish in the top four.

And Ill guarantee you one thing: From kick-off against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge today, the fans will belt out their support for Mourinho.

And when supporters are overwhelmingly on the managers side, it would make little sense for Abramovich to fly in the face of his clubs fanbase.

Mark my words, if they sack Mourinho, Chelsea will live to regret

Thats it.....I coming off the fence. Mourinho OUT ;-)

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Not always, 10-11 we were riding our luck from the get go and it ran out mid November in spectacular style. Even in 12-13 we weren't very convincing despite winning well till THAT United game, only time in the 3 years between the double and Mous return we looked good performance wise was the early stages of AVB and a couple of isolated periods under Rafa.

Even if the performances don't improve, we have far too much quality in this squad for results not too sooner rather than later, I'm not saying this hasn't been shit or we aren't in the doghouse because it has and we are, but look at Liverpool and Spurs last season, both were average at best and diabolically bad at worse but finished 6th and 5th respectively, over a 38 game season cream will always rise, at absolute worst we will finish 6th, maybe 7th if there's a Newcastle 11-12, Everton 13-14 style surprise package but below that? Won't happen.

You have to admit though that even if we've seen similarly shit patch of performances in the past, this is still different/worse based on the great added pressure from where we are sitting in the table and the fact that we just won the league last season.

The problem with the argument that the situation is bound to get better that we will inevitable regain form is that it gets less and and less likely with every passing week. Eventually you'll have to start thinking that any change and shake-up of the team will be a much better attempt at saving this sinking ship than the status-quo.

[zolayes 14,489]

@rhinos skin .. great news now you can Donate