manpe

Can you bring any examples where he's done that bar Varane and Zouma?

Your first question basically tries to justify taking no risks. It's odd because 100% of the people here advocate inclusion of youth, but when needed to justify Jose's decisions, then it all goes out the window for some. This is how I think Mourinho thinks and this way we will never incorporate young players (and I'm not talking about the Zoumas and Varanes). And the worst part is that I'm sure the players (not only youngsters, but also fringe players) sense that distrust in them and that devoids them of all confidence, except for the really world class talents. Protecting players to the point they have nothing to be protected from anymore is the worst kind of man management imo. And I don't really buy that "protecting youth" bs, I think he's mostly protecting himself. I agree with a lot of what Mourinho does, but the more time goes by, the more I'm starting to see his flaws. And like Peace said, his frailty too. His recent outbursts reek of desperation to assert his presence again. Maybe he thinks he'd gone too soft and now tries to build up the tough image again... I just wish he channeled that to his players not the media, referees and fans. Once we win the league I hope to god he releases himself from his shackles and grows some balls to drop consistently underperforming players and rely more on the hungry quality we have on the bench. Nobody can convince me that the likes of Filipe Luis, Schürrle, Salah, Cuadrado, Remy etc. are totally useless unless one of the untouchables is injured/suspended. As I said previously, I think they are/were absolutely devoid of confidence as a result of severe lack of playing time and distrust shown in them. Case in point: Schürrle is actually a fantastic player, but he made one mistake against City that allowed Lampard to equalize and I think in that moment he was already subconsciously sold by Mourinho. Just like Salah, just like De Bruyne, just like Mata and so on. Cuadrado, Remy and Luis will lengthen that list if things don't change. However, then you look at the likes of Oscar, Ivanovic and Cahill and you wonder where the hell does such extreme favouritism come from. If some random benchies performed like they have a lot of times, I'm sure they'd be in reserves if it still existed.

Courtois/Cech Azpi - Zouma - Terry - Luis Ramires - Matic Cuadrado/Willian - Willian/Cesc - Hazard Costa Not gonna happen, but oh well.

Maybe he's using his son to get his point across indirectly

What's there? The pics don't load on my work computer for some reason.

How likely is it that Dunga will drop him for the summer? He really needs a proper rest. I think he's played in a tournament for several seasons in a row now. The guy seems to be physically and mentally too fragile to cope with constant pressure like that.

Yeah I'm sure Jose will convince him that he is going to be an "important part of the team" next year. Then be shipped in January. Don't think he is the kind of person to stay just because he likes London culinary, rain, Big Ben or whatever.

Our team is full of false players. Maybe we are looking to invent new positions? Ivanovic is a false-back, Willian is a false-winger, Azpi is a false-leftback, Oscar is a false-ten, Cahill is just false. We are often branded the most complete team, but a team full of so many false positives can't be very complete.

After the PSG game Carragher made an interesting point imo, even though he got an avalanche of shit at him from us and Mourinho. He said that he had seen Mourinho teams being outplayed plenty of times, this is something we all have seen and know why it happens, but he also added that he didn't remember the last time a Mourinho team was straight-up outmuscled and bullied, and I agree. There were literally no redeeming qualities in the PSG game and 1st half against Soton, we were not only outplayed but outfought.

You are lucky to see that line-up once a season in a League Cup game against a semi-pro or amateur side if we draw one. Either Ivanovic or Azpilicueta leaves, or Filipe goes. He has no business rotting on the bench here unfortunately. Judging by last season and this season, Bran and Azpi will be our untouchable full-backs for years to come. We better get used to it.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho believes he is “special” because he is able to rise above all the criticism he receives, but is concerned that the media spending too much time talking about him. "I think people worry about me too much, (more) than they should. They don't know what my happiness is,"he told ESPN. Mourinho went onto explain what exactly makes him happy and also revealed why he considers himself as a “special” manager. "My happiness first of all is when I compare myself with the others, I see just a few that are with me in terms of success and the others I see a huge difference, a huge distance," he explained. "I have lots of respect for all of them, but in the Premier League, who is European champion? Me and (Manchester United boss Louis) van Gaal. "In the Premier League how many won the Premier League twice or more than twice? [Arsenal boss Arsene] Wenger and myself. "How many won every competition in this country? Community Shield, (League) Cup, FA Cup, Premier League? How many? "You go to Europe, how many won seven league titles? How many won two Champions Leagues? Ancelotti won three. Van Gaal, two. And Pep (Guardiola, the Bayern Munich boss), two. "I'm not content with that, but you are too much worried about myself. "What makes me feel special is that I am above all of this. You think I care about some bullsh*t I read? Do you think I care? I don't care. I don't care." Chelsea failed to beat Southampton on Sunday at Stamford Bridge but still lead Manchester City by six points with one game in hand in the Premier League. READ MORE: Jose Mourinho: I am above all of this, I am the best This isn't mind games or anything like that, Jose is clearly upset and stirred up. He needs to get his shit together, because like some players, he seems to be out of form as well.

JT why couldn't you sink that double chance you had from the corner His face looked sad as hell after that.

Okay so what do you think had suddenly changed since December that we look like squeaking on the pitch? Compared to the "best team in europe" that we were before.

It is. Nobody can convince me that Oscar and Fabregas have become shadows of themselves because they have suddenly lost their quality. I don't think so, they are simply too weak to be on the pitch both at the same time. It should be either one or the other, or get bullied. Though I must agree second half so far is an improvement in terms of intensity.

It's gone on long enough now to say with certainty, that our ongoing awful performances are a result of our players not being up to it fitness wise. December took most of our steam and we are running on fumes now. Hope to fuck we grind out a goal today and pray to Courtois that we don't concede.

Matic you asshole calm the fuck down

Well this is what Mourinho calls "complex biomechanical training" or smth like that.

We have 11 games to play, 2 games in hand over City, and we are leading by 5 pts. We can afford to lose three times and draw once in worst case scenario for it to go to goal difference. I can't help but be really confident right now.

Have noticed this slight design glitch a long time ago, never bothered to report it though.... until now! Click on spoiler if you dare

xoxo

Can somebody kindly link to the full presser so I can watch it when I get home from work? Thanks

We lost on an away goal, nothing else separated us. Ivanovic lost Luiz for the first goal, Silva scored a monstrous unsaveable header for the second and I think it was JT who should have done better. I can understand all the philosophical discussions over Mourinho's approach, but yesterday's elimination is hard to blame on him.

Chelsea’s Diego Costa reveals he turned down move to Liverpool HE HATES SCUM

It would be interesting to compare those stats to one of his peak seasons (2004-2009). Is it possible?