The Mourinho Thread

[Fernando 6,453]

Enjoyed the conference.

More please!

[Jase 43,479]

Should be Sunday. Or today at 1 BST.

Managers' press conference are never done on a weekend. Specifically, our manager press conference are usually held on a Friday for the weekend's league game, even if we are to play on a Monday. For matches on weekdays, they are normally done just one day before the game is played. Though it should be noted that there isn't always press conferences for domestic cup matches especially the League Cup unless when you reach the final.

[Zoro 151]

He completely owned Tottenham in todays conference. LOVE YOU JOSE!

[Hutcho 8,443]

Was out. Anyone got a link of the presser for me?

[Jase 43,479]

Mourinho's press conference today...

[Jase 43,479]

José Mourinho: Chelsea's best years are coming

A good interview of Jose on Sports Illustrated.

[Barbara 15,149]

José Mourinho: Chelsea's best years are coming

A good interview of Jose on Sports Illustrated.

I loved this:

Wahl: I want to have a little fun here. I'll read off some coaches' names, and you give me one sentence with your opinion on each.

Mourinho: OK.

Wahl: Carlo Ancelotti.

Mourinho: He loves to go after me. (laughs)

[Milan 17,853]

[Milan 17,853]

Jose was present at the U-21 game today

[Yeboii 1,844]

Jose was present at the U-21 game today

Must have been happy with the result

[Manuf 1,448]

if he ever decided to quit his coaching role he should go into PR. he can make anybody love him. ohh, you Jose..

[Henrique 9,133]

..

[Henrique 9,133]

You have to look back to Mourinhos first days: in his first hi used two systems, 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1. In both we had 3 physical players in the midfield, players that could create, but had defensive abilities as well. Makele, Lampard and Tiago was Mourinhos favourite trio. Up front he used to play two wingers (Robben, Duff or even Joe Cole) with a lone striker (Drogba or Gudjonsen), in the end of the season, tough, he was playing Joe Cole and Gudjonsen in the mid, and Didier as the CF.

In 05-06 we had the same pattern, Tiago left but Essies arrived, the we had Makele, Essien and Lampard. Still a very physical and solid midfield. There were the 4-3-3, with Robben, Duff, Wright Philips and Joe Cole as wingers, but he also used a 4-3-2-1, with Gudjonsen dropped to the mid, playing alongside Cole or Robben, and Drogba and Crespo rotating as strikers.

We had the same pattern in the mid after the WC, but now with Makelele (Mikel), Ballack and Lampard, with Essien now playing a lot of games as a RB, up front we had some confusion, and I think that Mourinho's static system was one of the reasons why Shevchenko failed at Chelsea. Mourinhos always used a static 4-3 system, and the dynamism was only changing from 4-3-3 to 4-3-2-1, and during that season he used a weird a 4-3-1-2, a system he created to accommodate both Shevchenko and Drogba, but at the end of the day we say Drogba and Kalou playing together in most part of the season.

The pattern followed the next 3 season, both Avran Grant and Ancelotti used even more static systems, Carlo tried to use some innovations, but at the end of the day Chelsea were playing in a 4-3-3 for 3 long seasons, with Makele, Lampard and Ballack, then Mikel (Essien), Ballack and Lampard as the "power trio" in the midfield, always a very physical mid. The system was so static, that even Anelka had to play as a winger, with Cole, Malouda and Kalou as the others "wingers". The problems started when we lost Ballack and bought Ramires to replace him, in 2011. Ancelotti kept the 4-3-3, but we did not have the kind of players to make the mid work in that system, you need players that can create and destroy at the same time, players like Xavi and Iniesta, or like Makele, Lampard and Ballack. Ramires was a different animal, he just dont have the same offensive abilities that Ballack had, and he lacked the presence the german had. Lampard was getting old, Essien was doomed with injuries, so Mikel was playing more games which means he was making more mistakes.

Our midfield was once a physical, strong and aggressive one, but it became slow, boring and the team's weak point. AVB's and RDM's tenure were chaotic, because both knew very little about the game, Benitez was there to fix the role, but now we have again a chance to create another team. Mourinhos is a very smart man, he knows his own architecture, we just dont have the players to play in a 4-3-3 system. Forget about those fantasy line-ups with Ramires, Oscar and De Bruyne playing in front of the defense in a 4-3-3 system. Playing in a 4-3-3 right now is the same as playing Essien, Joe Cole (Geremi) and Robben; Duff, Drogba, Kalou. Can you imagine we playing with this kind of formation against a big european side in a UCL semi-final?

With these players we need two players with a more defensive role, and thats why we will be seeing Lampard and Ramires playing most part of the season as starters. Perhaps there will be a 4-2-1-2-1, and thats almost as the same as a 4-2-3-1, but indicates that a players is playing in a number 10 position (Oscar/Mata), while you have two others playing more on the flanks. Mourinho himself said his system for this squad in 4-2-3-1. 4-3-3 is never a possibility, imo, unless we want to lose a game.

Sorry for the long post and for the mistakes.

[Jase 43,479]

Mourinho: With three wishes I'd heal Vilanova, Mandela and the world's health problems (while listening to Bryan Adams)

[Milan 17,853]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfk2OBVWuTY#t=43

[Ollie 4,400]

He's certainly back. Thought he was gonna be quieter and less controversial? No fucking chance. He's back and really getting stuck into Moyes and Man Utd. Fucking love him.

[NishC300 1,865]

[Liquidator 5,176]

He's got Moyes in his absolute back pocket for mind games. Moyes doesn't have the stature, experience or reputation to stand up to Mourinho. You can tell he's got right under his skin with his comments about Rooney, which is something Fergie wouldn't have stood for.