The Mourinho Thread

[NishC300 1,865]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/chelsea-column-juan-mata-fernando-2261455?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Making a Mou-ve: Jose must

Getty

The mood music at Stamford Bridge is happy.

The fans are excited. After all, Jose Mourinho is back and everything seems right with the world.

But while Chelsea have got off to an unbeaten domestic start and pushed Bayern Munich all the way in Prague, no ship can ever run completely smoothly.

And even if the top levels of HMS Blues are looking ready for inspection, below the decks there are issues rising up and set to demand Mourinho can navigate through the problems.

In Madrid, of course, Mourinho's biggest conflict was because he was not scared of taking on some of the sacred cows of the Real dressing room.

But the clashes with Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos - both of whom were extremely adept at leaking their displeasure into the ears of those more than happy to do their bidding – became a huge element in the estrangement that led to last summer's divorce.

That Carlo Ancelotti has taken the same view of Casillas that Mourinho did is merely an irony, although Mourinho will, perhaps, smile at the thought that one of the managerial rivals with whom he has rarely seen eye to eye on a personal level chose to back his judgement from the word go.

I don't Ker much for him: Casillas has been the subject of much controversy in the Real Madrid dressing room

Helios de la Rubia

Even some of the Blues fans who accept every Mourinho diktat as a tablet of stone, though, may be becoming perplexed with the status of Juan Mata, one of the three Spaniards whose apparently-relegated status may yet force major decisions.

During the summer, Mourinho and the Blues hierarchy sought to dismiss the suggestion - which had its genesis in Portugal, remember - that Mata, Chelsea's Player of the Year for the past two seasons, was not his cup of tea.

Indeed, Mata received a telephone call from Mourinho during the Confederations Cup to reinforce the message.

An injury during the pre-season tour to the USA, just as the returning manager was seeking to bed down his starting side, could not have been worse-timed for Mata, whose display against Aston Villa in the second game of the season was evidence he was not ready.

Fitness was cited for Mata's non-appearances against Manchester United and Bayern and the player himself told the club's in-house TV station how happy he was to stay.

But the rumours persist, the suspicion that Mourinho's first choice for the second line of three attacking midfielders will be Oscar, Willian and Eden Hazard is growing.

Contentious Mata: The Spaniard isn't considered first choice at Chelsea

Mike Hewitt

Some will say, with reason, that Mata will have to like it or lump it. That the Spaniard is not the greatest worker-back in football history.

That, when he does not player in his preferred No 10 role, he is inclined to sulk a little. That Kevin De Bruyne and Andre Schuerrle both have the same challenge.

One man, though, has already outlined the problem.

''For a player to be selected for his country, normally he must be first choice at his club," he said. "He must play very regularly with the club and I think that's the big motivation if they are thinking about the World Cup.

"So any player that wants to go to the World Cup, if they are a second choice in their club, they are in trouble... they are in trouble.''

Jose Mourinho, himself, may have been talking about Wayne Rooney, part of the attempt to seduce the England striker away from Manchester United.

But if Mata, Fernando Torres and Cesar Azpilicueta are, now, ''second choice'' for their club, at the start of a season that ends with a World Cup, especially when Vicente Del Bosque is unconvinced about the quality of the Premier League in any event, they may point to Mourinho's own words in the weeks and months to come.

Mourinho made it fairly clear in the summer, even before a ball was kicked, that he saw Branislav Ivanovic as his first-choice right back.

Hail Cesar: Azpilicueta has found himself left out of the Spain squad after losing his first-team place at Chelsea

Scott Heavey

Immediately, such a decision relegates Azpilicueta, a member of that Spanish Confederations Cup squad but omitted from the group chosen by Del Bosque for their World Cup qualifiers.

As for Torres, he may never have been discussed as a deadline day departure - Chelsea allowed Romelu Lukaku to join Everton on loan when they could not persuade Demba Ba to move to West Ham or Newcastle, the two clubs prepared to pay the £3m loan fee – but sporting director Michael Emenalo told the club's website about his new status.

Emenalo said: ''In the case of Samuel Eto'o, it was an open secret that we wanted Wayne Rooney and I don't need to explain what the idea is behind wanting a player like Rooney.

''So if we weren't able to get Rooney and we had Lukaku, Ba and Torres, we felt comfortable with them but we also felt comfortable to bring Eto'o to give us a little bit of competition, because we wanted to freshen up that position.

''We have every confidence in Torres, Ba and Lukaku but with Eto'o we have bought experience.''

Fer-st choice? Torres may find his own international prospects blocked if he is on the Chelsea bench

Alexander Hassenstein

Experience of how to play for Mourinho, to give him what he wants, that is.

To be his first choice striker, leaving Torres as the second in line. The second choice. The ones who ''are in trouble''.

Some will find it humorous that the initials of the three players whose status may be the most problematic for Mourinho, at a club where finances have, until recently, been limitless, add up to A(zpilicueta) T(orres) M(ata).

Of course, the suspicions might be wrong. Mata, Azpilicueta and Torres might be among the first names on the team-sheet, week-in, week-out.

That, though, does not seem too likely. And if the hints and rumours are right, then it will not need too many signals from Del Bosque for things to start becoming a great deal more testing for Mourinho. At least he knows the fans will back HIM, all the way.

These people just can't resist an opportunity to have a dig at us. We have better quality journalists on our forum than these fucked up tabloids.

It's barely been 3 games into the PL season. We have another 35! (along with Cup, League Cup and European fixtures). How can we not use Mata or Azpi? Lipton (Tea )never bothered mentioning that Mourinho has on countless occasions said that Mata is a very important player for us and will play an essential role. He even praised Mata as one of the best no.10s IIRC.

[NishC300 1,865]

Jose Mourinho has been nominated for August's manager of the month.

Only mangers who might possibly beat Mourinho I guess would be Lambert or Rodgers.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I think Rodgers will deservedly win it.

[Jase 43,479]

Only mangers who might possibly beat Mourinho I guess would be Lambert or Rodgers.

Paul Lambert isn't nominated for the award. Only Mourinho, Malky Mackay, AVB and Brendan Rodgers have been nominated.

[Stats 7,142]

Only mangers who might possibly beat Mourinho I guess would be Lambert or Rodgers.

Lambert is not nominated as people have said and yeah I know Villa beat Arsenal but they lost their next 2 games, even though it was against big teams (one of them being us) you can't really nominate him for winning 1 game

[zolayes 14,489]

These people just can't resist an opportunity to have a dig at us. We have better quality journalists on our forum than these fucked up tabloids.

It's barely been 3 games into the PL season. We have another 35! (along with Cup, League Cup and European fixtures). How can we not use Mata or Azpi? Lipton (Tea )never bothered mentioning that Mourinho has on countless occasions said that Mata is a very important player for us and will play an essential role. He even praised Mata as one of the best no.10s IIRC.

surely by now you know better than let the crap journos wind you up ...they are only better than trolls in that they have supported (glory hunting) their teams since

they were children. As I have said in other threads our pundits and press coverage is juvenile compared to that of other sports.

[Jase 43,479]

Lambert is not nominated as people have said and yeah I know Villa beat Arsenal but they lost their next 2 games, even though it was against big teams (one of them being us) you can't really nominate him for winning 1 game

Well, Malky Mackay has been nominated after just 1 win in 3 as well and it came also against a big team in Man City. So, yeah..

[Stats 7,142]

Well, Malky Mackay has been nominated after just 1 win in 3 as well and it came also against a big team in Man City..

But he got a draw as well but I think it is quite obvious the award will go to Rodgers.

[Jase 43,479]

But he got a draw as well but I think it is quite obvious the award will go to Rodgers.

Saved by the point.

And yeah, let Rodgers win it and Liverpool suffer the award's curse.

[zolayes 14,489]

I think Rodgers will get it ,,,but remember MOM is often a curse ....I do mean MANAGER of the Month

[The Mak 4,459]

Just saw that Lipton article:

Some will find it humorous that the initials of the three players whose status may be the most problematic for Mourinho, at a club where finances have, until recently, been limitless, add up to A(zpilicueta) T(orres) M(ata).

Some will find that you are an absolute retard Lipton!

Martin Lipton, LOL!

[hjperdeath 2,226]

Brendan Rodgers was named the Premier League Manager of the month. While Sturridge is the Player of the month.

[Special Juan 28,141]

That's all we need more ammunition for Liverpool fans to fire, just to sit alongside how they are going to win the league

[English Freak 456]

Brendan Rodgers was named the Premier League Manager of the month. While Sturridge is the Player of the month.

Good to see Sturridge picking up the award. Hopefully he keeps scoring goals and proving the critics wrong.

[Ankit 3,176]

Just saw that Lipton article:

Some will find that you are an absolute retard Lipton!

Martin Lipton, LOL!

Jess Christ! Did Lipton even go to any school or he just got up and thought oh I am gonna be a journalist. That's just plain stupid, you can't even laugh at it. Only feel pity for him. How I wish god gives him some sense or the ability to use some of his pea sized brain.

[The Mak 4,459]

Jess Christ! Did Lipton even go to any school or he just got up and thought oh I am gonna be a journalist. That's just plain stupid, you can't even laugh at it. Only feel pity for him. How I wish god gives him some sense or the ability to use some of his pea sized brain.

What's even worse is that there are people who actually pay him for this sort of crap...imagine how stupid they are!

[Blue Warrior 109]

Sturridge to hit ten goals and fade into obscurity and Liverpool fans to go back to watching classics on BT sport. There should be no love of Daniel "Mercenary" Sturridge on here.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Sturridge to hit ten goals and fade into obscurity and Liverpool fans to go back to watching classics on BT sport. There should be no love of Daniel "Mercenary" Sturridge on here.

We're the last team that can call players "mercenaries". You really think all the players we've bought come to use because they love Chelsea? The term is silly in football. Players go where they make more money just as anybody would switch jobs if another company offered to double their wages. I never get why supporters act like players should somehow be different than all other people and play purely for the love of the club/business. We all get why Sturridge left. He wasn't getting a chance to be a striker and he thought he deserved a shot. He's not a Chelsea player so I am not going to support him, but I don't see how anyone can begrudge him leaving.

[Kojo 4,676]

That's all we need more ammunition for Liverpool fans to fire, just to sit alongside how they are going to win the league

Oh the term 'ammunition'

Well then lets just say each and every Liverpool fan has one of them Hershal shotguns out of the walking dead with unlimited ammo. Or GTA or Saints Row cheatcodes at there disposal.

Liverpool fans will never stop there ridiculous over optimistic statements of how they are going to win the league. It doesn't matter either way because come the end of the season they will once again be out of the top four.

[Jase 43,479]

José Mourinho: Keeping Chelsea players happy is not my problem

"I don't know if I will keep them happy or not," said Mourinho. "But I am happy because I have so many good players and because, whether doing well or wrong, I do it in an honest way. The way to do it in an honest way is to let them speak on the pitch. I will judge on the pitch. I will not judge on status, words, interviews, agents, parents or friends, not things in the press or on Twitter or something. I will let football speak and football decide."

He gave an indication of the ruthlessness of his planned meritocracy when he replied to a Belgian journalist's question as to whether Kevin De Bruyne could expect to play more than 20 matches this season. "If he doesn't play 20 matches, it's because he doesn't deserve it. If he deserves it, he will. You speak to him and put pressure on him, tell him: 'Hey kid, you have to be the man of the match.'"

As for Mata, the Portuguese said the club's outstanding player of the last two seasons is not being alienated and can still play a significant role in the coming months as Chelsea tackle the Premier League, Champions League and domestic cups. "He's in the same plans as are all the others. He's a player I trust a lot and will fight for positions like everybody else … The squad is good, it is competitive and, with so many matches coming every three days, sometimes I will make strange decisions in your eyes but sometimes I think about the matches that are coming and leave an important player out of selection because I want to have him at his level for the next match. I want the players to think only about the next match but I have to think further than that as a manager."