The Mourinho Thread

[Muzchap 8,966]

Winning this game is far from a great achievement. The start of PL is really a big deal. So you expect people to praise Mourinho for beating Tel Aviv? Even if he the team defeats Arsenal, people won't be here praising him as much as they criticized, and the reason is very simple: Mourinho is getting criticized for the whole picture, they are not taking about isolated results, but about a situation that many people saw coming (at least people who never get the idea that Cahill is world class, Terry as good as 2005, Ivanovic boots being holy, and Azpilicueta being the best LB of the Europe).

If Mourinho change things, I'm sure people will be here praising his achievements, but I'm not talking about a couple of positive results.

Agree with this 100%

But - I hope last night has at least clicked something in Mou's head - that the 'fringe' players deserve more chances.

Yes the oppo was awful - but last night was simply a case of winning - the fact it happened with the main protagonists of frustration on the bench was a good thing!

Regarding your part about the EPL - I also agree and think we have been stuck in a rut since 'possession football' became a thing.

Every English team is so fucking obsessed with possession - but as we have seen time and time again, possession does not equal a win - goals are what count! I think the EPL needs to shape up and start producing faster attacking football - forget this slow possession based bollox. The EPL was strongest when the game was paid with speed. I hope Mou realises this and we ditch our boring laboured build up play and focus on quick passing and movement with some nice triangles - where every player always has a pass.

[Blue_Fox_ 2,086]

I forgot the feeling (of winning). For so long we didn't win. It's so good."

-Jose Mourinho; source: Evening Standard

"The penalty we missed was a big test for us because when everything has gone against you - red cards, penalties against you, decisions, bad luck, injuries - and you start a game you have to win and after five minutes miss a penalty, it's a great test of the character of the players and the team. It was good we had an extra negative episode and the reaction was very good.

"The team had a big determination to be a bit different and to show a different state of mind. I'm happy with the performance and the result. The team was more aggressive with and without the ball. The pressing was much stronger. The lines were closer together. There was a very good reaction when we lost the ball to try to recover it immediately; to try to force the mistake in the opponent instead of waiting for their mistakes."

"We moved the ball very well. Fabregas and Loftus-Cheek gave speed to the team. The ball was quickly leaving defensive areas and reaching attacking players. We played well. I know we didn't beat Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich but we beat a team that arrived here having deserved to beat Basel and coming here to make it difficult for us. It was not difficult because we played so well."

-Jose Mourinho; source: Chelsea FC

[ZOS 580]

Good one Jose. Now go on show true grit by benching the same guys on Saturday. Come on you can do it.

Begovic

Cesar Zouma Gary Baba

Nemanja

Ruben Cesc

Oscar Costa Hazard

:blue scalf:

[Fernando 6,585]

Was reading what Mourinho said and mentioned how we must pick right moments to play rlc....

Don't know what to make of it. But I state my case. One game does not make a trend. Needs to show continuity and sustainable game time for development.

Let's see what is the case after another 5 games or so.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

The team was more aggressive with and without the ball. The pressing was much stronger. The lines were closer together. There was a very good reaction when we lost the ball to try to recover it immediately; to try to force the mistake in the opponent instead of waiting for their mistakes.

So he knows our pressing has been shit and was better last night. Especially as the team was pressing together and not disjointed.

"We moved the ball very well. Fabregas and Loftus-Cheek gave speed to the team. The ball was quickly leaving defensive areas and reaching attacking players. We played well.

So he knows our possession play has been very slow because of a slow midfield. Hopefully we reduce how much we play in the middle and play through the wings.

I know we didn't beat Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich but we beat a team that arrived here having deserved to beat Basel and coming here to make it difficult for us. It was not difficult because we played so well.

Good, let's keep up our pressing, increase our speed in possession play and keep ivanovic out of the team so that we don't concede on every attack on our right wing.

Our attacking with hazard is a problem we can solve in time but we need pressing to stop leaking goals.

[cfcs most wanted 657]

Maybe we can try Ivanovic at cb because-

Ivanovic at cb - Branislav Kingovic

Ivanovic at rb - Branislav Ivanobitch

[empire of emotions 247]

ivanovic will start again vs arsenal. im 96,4% sure.

[Clockwork 1,794]

Maybe we can try Ivanovic at cb because-

Ivanovic at cb - Branislav Kingovic

Ivanovic at rb - Branislav Ivanobitch

I rather stop accommodating over the hill players.

[Fernando 6,585]

Two quiet threads today... post match and this one.

I read people saying we would barely scrap a result today prior to the match. He does many changes, we win comfortably and the posts still deviate. What matters is Arsenal and Macabbi was awful.

I have doubts Iva will be left out of the team though. Baba didn't look comfortable enough defending against such awful team. I think we'll have to endure Iva simply because now we lack someone decent enough to replace him *sighs*

if he knew what TC is, he'd say they don't read papers or TC

I think at the end of the day what matters is what the owner and board think.

Because as far as for me I have no doubts we will bounce back. Yesterday was a good sign.

But after recovering and finishing the season and having evaluate 3 seasons I can come to the conclusion that he should go. Because he brings nothing new that we cannot get from some other manager less controversial and better attacking style.

However if the board and the owner are okay with this and back him even in bad times like Arsenal does with Wenger then that's even better.

Why? Because they have finally settle on a philosophy they want and are willing to give room for mistake.

Even though we make fun of Wenger, that is the reality. For a team like us top 4 should always be the minimum even in a bad season.

If we don't win the PL then at least top 4.

[iseah100 5,612]

Did you guys catch what Hummels said of Tuechel?? He said that there is a strict diet in place, a much healthier one. Think that has a lot to do with their great play this season? Is that a problem Chelsea has?

[Jase 43,479]

Did you guys catch what Hummels said of Tuechel?? He said that there is a strict diet in place, a much healthier one. Think that has a lot to do with their great play this season? Is that a problem Chelsea has?

[iseah100 5,612]

I thought it was a fair question.

[Jase 43,479]

I thought it was a fair question.

And I thought that was a fair response, albeit with a little sarcasm.

[Fulham Broadway 17,312]

Did you guys catch what Hummels said of Tuechel?? He said that there is a strict diet in place, a much healthier one. Think that has a lot to do with their great play this season? Is that a problem Chelsea has?

Good point. Most clubs have 'guidelines' over diet etc. Wenger though in the 90s enforced a strict diet on his squad, macrobiotic stuff that he learned in Japan, and that was the gooners most successful period.

[iseah100 5,612]

And I thought that was a fair response, albeit with a little sarcasm.

You're annyoing.[emoji35]

[Jase 43,479]

You're annyoing.[emoji35]

Thank you.

[Kieran. 6,317]

Did you guys catch what Hummels said of Tuechel?? He said that there is a strict diet in place, a much healthier one. Think that has a lot to do with their great play this season? Is that a problem Chelsea has?

Not with Mourinho around I don't think. I can't see him being okay w the players eating junk. I've known Chelsea to serve healthy meals to the players for a while now but I guess I could be mistaken.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,072]

Winning this game is far from a great achievement. The start of PL is really a big deal. So you expect people to praise Mourinho for beating Tel Aviv? Even if he the team defeats Arsenal, people won't be here praising him as much as they criticized, and the reason is very simple: Mourinho is getting criticized for the whole picture, they are not taking about isolated results, but about a situation that many people saw coming (at least people who never get the idea that Cahill is world class, Terry as good as 2005, Ivanovic boots being holy, and Azpilicueta being the best LB of the Europe).

If Mourinho change things, I'm sure people will be here praising his achievements, but I'm not talking about a couple of positive results.

And neither was DDA, the poster of the comment to which your message above is a reply. Take another look at what he said, and see if perhaps you might agree with me.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

You're annyoing.[emoji35]

And you JUST noticed now?!

[Laylabelle 9,534]

Good point. Most clubs have 'guidelines' over diet etc. Wenger though in the 90s enforced a strict diet on his squad, macrobiotic stuff that he learned in Japan, and that was the gooners most successful period.

And Spurs have learnt to avoid hotel lasagne