The Mourinho Thread

[iseah100 5,612]

This straw man argument again. Yes we all want Jose to be completely gung-ho and abandon defending in every big game. There is no such thing as a balanced approach.

People are complaining about us not being able to be offensive away, Bayern just drew with Shaktar. City play offensive and look what happens to them? 1-1 is not the end of the world.

[Sheva. 5,373]

This straw man argument again. Yes we all want Jose to be completely gung-ho and abandon defending in every big game. There is no such thing as a balanced approach.

There's no balance in this team. We have our regular lineup which is very attacking with Fabregas at DM and Ivanovic never at the back.

Or the big game lineup, which is very slow and boring.

[Styles 9,790]

This straw man argument again. Yes we all want Jose to be completely gung-ho and abandon defending in every big game. There is no such thing as a balanced approach.

Apparently 2 shots on goal is a perfectly balanced display away from home and 1-1 is the absolute best we could have managed. Win away against a top team? Don't be daft. That's impossible. Jose told me so.

[The Chels 2,502]

People are complaining about us not being able to be offensive away, Bayern just drew with Shaktar. City play offensive and look what happens to them? 1-1 is not the end of the world.

I don't think people would moan so much at our lack of attacking play in the big games if we were defensively solid and could see a 1-0 out. I certainly wouldn't. When a team of our quality looks shaky defensively and creates virtually nothing going forward (in the majority of our big away games this season) though then I think there are clear tactical issues and people have the right to complain. A 1-1 is a good result but we were extremely lucky to get it and if we play like that against any of the big 3 in Spain (which we will, I have no doubt) it's almost certainly game over.

[Barbara 15,149]

Come on, that was a 'winnable' game through and through from minute one.

There was no need to be so defensive against such a weakened PSG - especially when they showed they were more worried about not conceding than scoring.

You see an opportunity to kill a match, you do it, you don't stick with your inadequate plan. If PSG were attacking us nonstop, then I'd agree with him, and the 1x1 would look much better than now.

We're always at risk of conceding because there's no defensive solidness in the team. Mourinho is counting with our ability to win at the Bridge and not concede there. It's not set on stone like that. He could have dared a little bit more today and he didn't.

I don't feel confident about any UCL chances this season. We started the season in a great way, then we started receding. Then now we have an inflexible approach to certain matches, even when the scenario presented is different. We'll defend like crazy against Spurs, and we won't even attack much against PSG. It'll be the match against Liverpool all over again, with us relying on the away goal advantage. The problem is with this defense it's too risky and we're one single goal (one that we have coming) at home to be kicked out of the competition. Why risk so much if we could have done something more in that first half? This isn't City in the league or Bayern, Barça, Madrid teams in Europe. This is struggling PSG with a few injured players limiting their horrible manager options. Blanc even got his tactics right today if you ask me, but Mourinho fell short imo.

The result is great, I see us going through, what I don't see is us making progress to become a team that could win this or a team that won't make me nervous about playing a small domestic cup final. I don't like feeling like that. I hope winning the league alleviates the pressure he clearly has on his shoulders about winning something again - preferably something expressive such as EPL or UCL. EPL we are in good position, but I don't see us even reaching the SFs on UCL depending on who we draw first (that if that home goal that we have coming doesn't arrive earlier).

[supporter 3,088]

The most important thing is to be in the next draw.

Again, all quiet. We today we could have been crushed by the PSG after Cavani's goal. They were playing at home and that always complicates things in Champions League.

I think that PSG have not crushed us. And probably other more reckless approach could have done that today we were bemoaning an impossible result of tracing in The Bridge.

Bayern have drawn against Shakhtar and probably the other teams will have adjusted results. Champions is Champions. And Champions is always difficult.

I think it was a smart approach Jose. We are alive and are favorites next March 11th. Now the problem is for the PSG.

Thinking coolly, good result, intelligent approach and everything will be decide in our house. The Bridge will be decisive.

Seriously, quiet friends, this is a distance race and we took a perfect pace.

Together we are more stronger

Regards to ALL.

[Barbara 15,149]

The most important thing is to be in the next draw.

Again, all quiet. We today we could have been crushed by the PSG after Cavani's goal. They were playing at home and that always complicates things in Champions League.

I think that PSG have not crushed us. And probably other more reckless approach could have done that today we were bemoaning an impossible result of tracing in The Bridge.

Bayern have drawn against Shakhtar and probably the other teams will have adjusted results. Champions is Champions. And Champions is always difficult.

I think it was a smart approach Jose. We are alive and are favorites next March 11th. Now the problem is for the PSG.

Thinking coolly, good result, intelligent approach and everything will be decide in our house. The Bridge will be decisive.

Seriously, quiet friends, this is a distance race and we took a perfect pace.

Together we are more stronger

Regards to ALL.

It was more likely to us to have crushed PSG in their own turf with their first half tactics than PSG crushing us after we conceded the goal. That's the missed opportunity that could bite us in the ass four weeks from now... I hope it doesn't, but we could have gotten business done today when they were afraid of conceding. We have some amazing attacking players with a little bit more of license to attack would have killed the scared PSG we faced. Now we're one mistake away from losing a tie that could have been won today. Sorry, he was unnecessarily pragmatic today and while 1x1 is a good result we could have settled everything with a little more daring first half. All he needed to do was call a couple of players to the sidelines and give them some instruction - even if we had five players that according to him haven't trained before this match, which honestly I don't believe was quite like that. Willian and Oscar may have missed a couple training sessions, as well as Cesc and whoever else he needed to spare, but there's no way I believe him we have five players that didn't train AT ALL in the WEEK LONG match preparation we had.

[supporter 3,088]

It was more likely to us to have crushed PSG in their own turf with their first half tactics than PSG crushing us after we conceded the goal. That's the missed opportunity that could bite us in the ass four weeks from now... I hope it doesn't, but we could have gotten business done today when they were afraid of conceding. We have some amazing attacking players with a little bit more of license to attack would have killed the scared PSG we faced. Now we're one mistake away from losing a tie that could have been won today. Sorry, he was unnecessarily pragmatic today and while 1x1 is a good result we could have settled everything with a little more daring first half. All he needed to do was call a couple of players to the sidelines and give them some instruction - even if we had five players that according to him haven't trained before this match, which honestly I don't believe was quite like that. Willian and Oscar may have missed a couple training sessions, as well as Cesc and whoever else he needed to spare, but there's no way I believe him we have five players that didn't train AT ALL in the WEEK LONG match preparation we had.

Perhaps in the first time if it is true that we could have killed the match.

I think in the first time we controlled well the tempo of the match .

But in the second half, after Cavani's goal, an offensive approach would have been unwise. PSG were highly motivated and we are not interested in a crazy game.

It is true the PSG had many injured and at the first time we could have killed the match. But that goal has changed everything and it was impossible another approach. In Champions League a bad night can remove you from the competition.

We had our chance, but after their goal we paddled countercurrent and Jose approach allows us to be favorites in the next match against PSG.

While it is true that we started the season very strong and negative signals transmits our performance, but I think today was not a day for experiments.

We are tired physically and mentally, and we have 22 days to recover sensations, so definitely put Zouma in our starting eleven, and accelerate the process of adjusting Cuadrado to play down the sides.

There are many things that worry me in the team since he started 2015. I think the final of the League Cup can take away a lot of anxiety if we won it. We're stuck and have to recover the sensations of the beginning of the season fast.

I am also worried, but we are alive in 3 competitions and that's always difficult. Jose often waste the first game of the ties and bet heavily on for the second game. I think he has everything under control.

Regards.

Regards to ALL.

[The Chels 2,502]

Willian and Oscar may have missed a couple training sessions, as well as Cesc and whoever else he needed to spare, but there's no way I believe him we have five players that didn't train AT ALL in the WEEK LONG match preparation we had.

Definitely. He does like to exaggerate a little! Remember his Balotelli story where he said Mario was sent off in the 46th minute when it was actually the 60th

[Hybrid Angel 2,130]

Mourinho is the man who's gathered all these players, making what could be argued one of the most balanced sides in Europe. However, I think despite the fact this is the team that he has built, he is also the one who is preventing it from reaching its full potential.

Today we played a good PSG side, not great, but the way we played we made them look like top class. This was a winnable game through and through and their defense showed vulnerability whenever we moved forward, which we rarely did.

Mourinho's teams have been always great at counter-attacking, this Mourinho team, however, is surprisingly horrible at it. I wouldn't have that much of a problem with playing defensively if we would actually try to counter attack. Our players mostly just hoof the ball down the pitch, even when we try to counter-attack we lose the ball easily because of how slow we move the ball.

[The Chels 2,502]

Pragmatically has been a perfect match for us. We are ahead and we hit first. In the first half we controlled the game. Without many dangerous plays and the goal of Ivanovic. The approach has been very good. In the second part everything has changed for the goal of Cavani. Jose's approach was different because he had to react to PSG goal. We we played away, we had already scored a goal and PSG could break the tie because they played at home. IMO, Jose was intelligent, defense 5 and try to come alive to The Bridge. Champions League ties are very complicated. Today Bayern have drawn against Shakhtar tonight. Champions League is never easy. Thinking coldly, we go ahead and the tie will be decided at The Bridge where we are infallible. If we had gone on to win the match for PSG decided maybe we could have beaten severely. I am satisfied with the approach of Jose. The March 11 will be a very different match. In our stadium, going ahead, maybe having won the League Cup (which would give us too much confidence) with Cuadrado integrated already in the team andFabregas and Diego Costa fully well physically. We have to not worry so much, it's soon. darrus and iseah100 like this Like This

I admire your optimism but sadly do not share it. This season we have taken the lead against City (twice), United, Liverpool (COC), Tottenham and PSG as well as Bradford and Schalke, and ended up winning none of them. Whilst it is inevitable that we (like all big teams) do occasionally drop points from winning positions, most of these matches happen to be big away games and we have thrown away 1-0 leads in the vast majority of them this season. I don't believe that is just coincidence or bad luck. Does that not concern you?

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Nothing new here, Jose going to Jose vs big games and of course the latest excuse (or lie) is "5 players didn't train" to cover for his team's non-footballing performance. Mourinho's one trick pony tactics being exposed again vs a big team who we can't easily beat with just quality alone. He and his marketing team have done a (very) good job branding him as this tactical mastermind when that couldn't be further from the truth. The myth of him being a tactical genius is simply that, a myth. He's very good in defensive organisation and improving players mentally, but he's very weak in the technical aspect of football. He's achieved a lot on those qualities so far in his career, but I'm not surprised he's struggled to put impose his managerial ethos on that Madrid team and to us.

We have regressed so much technically from 4-5 years ago, despite having better players now, so much so that we can't even build attacks anymore, or a play a passing game with any purpose. Against weaker opposition, he simply tells the players to go out and express themselves, with zero technical input. Hazards said that in an interview the other day, some other players like Robben have said something similar about Mourinho's non-existent "attacking philosophy". When we can't rely on our superior players, we're nothing and barring a miracle, I don't see Mourinho being able to win the CL with these group of players. We literally play the worst football in big games of any big team in Europe.

I can't pretend and say I'm not worried about the direction this team is going. Apart from of one or two minor issues, we have all the qualities to be one of the best teams in the world for the next decade at least, but we're never going to fulfill our true potential if we continue to play football like this. That was a disgusting performance. This team is due a hammering, worse than whatever Spurs did to us. That will be a wake up call to Mourinho and to the club. It's not the first time we've gone in at half-time with a positive performance and result and we come out playing like cowards in the 2nd half, scared shitless. Whose fault is that? The players, or the instructions they were given by their manager at half-time? Don't make me laugh.

Mourinho seriously needs to humble himself and consider building up his philosophy and approach, specifically the attacking aspect of it. I was expecting him to do it last summer, but it's obvious he hasn't. If he doesn't, the game will leave him behind. We've already the rise of new managers like Simeone who can do everything Mourinho does in terms of defensive organisation and also better it by improving his team technically. Even in the eyes of his deluded followers, how can Jose advertise himself as the best when he continues to do the same things that failed so woefully at Real Madrid? If he's unwilling to develop his tactics in the summer, then I maintain he's not the right manager to take this particular "profile" of squad to the next level, irrespective of whether we win the league or not. That's a competition in which you don't have to beat the best to be the best, instead you beat the teams you're clearly superior to. In the Champions League, there's no place to hide. Vs the strongest teams, there's no place to hide. It's important to give Jose credit here. We aren't losing many of these games, but neither are we winning any and neither are we showing any evolution in our style of play.

I maintain that we play this way vs big teams because Mourinho doesn't know any other way how. Don't be deceived by the excuses. Lastly and I'll keep this one short. Jose keeps saying he wants to stay at Chelsea for the next decade. That won't happen if he doesn't evolve tactically and if we continue in this manner in the big games. That's not the way Roman assembled this team to play.

"

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

I admire your optimism but sadly do not share it. This season we have taken the lead against City (twice), United, Liverpool (COC), Tottenham and PSG as well as Bradford and Schalke, and ended up winning none of them. Whilst it is inevitable that we (like all big teams) do occasionally drop points from winning positions, most of these matches happen to be big away games and we have thrown away 1-0 leads in the vast majority of them this season. I don't believe that is just coincidence or bad luck. Does that not concern you?

Why would he be worried when Chelsea tops EPL, can win the first trophy of the season in less than two weeks and is now favourites to reach the quarter finals in Champions League and be four games closer to the Final???

[The Chels 2,502]

Why would he be worried when Chelsea tops EPL, can win the first trophy of the season in less than two weeks and is now favourites to reach the quarter finals in Champions League and be four games closer to the Final???

Because if we cannot maintain a lead against those teams what makes you think we have any chance against the likes of Bayern, Real, Atletico and Barca? If we play like we did today after taking the lead (which seems very likely) then those teams will do more than just equalise and it gives us little chance in the CL. There's also the issue of Tottenham in the COC final - I would not be surprised if we take the lead and then get pegged back. That is always very dangerous given the importance of momentum in finals.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

before the game : PSG will see a different Chelsea from last season.

after the game : 5 of my players didn't train.

And of course, some people still naively buy it. Why wait till your side has been categorically outclassed in every facet of football till you then go on and contradict yourself later? That was the most lopsided 1-1 I've seen in a very long time. More like 5-1. And also, how many times this season have we averaged 1 or 0 shots on target in a match? 4? 5? That's unheard of at Chelsea.

[supporter 3,088]

I admire your optimism but sadly do not share it. This season we have taken the lead against City (twice), United, Liverpool (COC), Tottenham and PSG as well as Bradford and Schalke, and ended up winning none of them. Whilst it is inevitable that we (like all big teams) do occasionally drop points from winning positions, most of these matches happen to be big away games and we have thrown away 1-0 leads in the vast majority of them this season. I don't believe that is just coincidence or bad luck. Does that not concern you?

Hi!

If I admit that there are worrying aspects in our performance. But also I think Jose is a specialist in ties, he has the situation under control.

Maybe we have not played matches against major rivals, but it is also true that we do not we were obliged to win those games.

City, Liverpool, United, Arsenal ... They are behind of US, Is they who should be sad for their results against us.

This is a long race and we are alive in 3 competitions.

I fully trust in Jose. When he will be bound to win, I'm sure he will win the big matches. He is a specialist in the important moments.

Regards.

Regards to ALL.

[Barbara 15,149]

Mourinho is the man who's gathered all these players, making what could be argued one of the most balanced sides in Europe. However, I think despite the fact this is the team that he has built, he is also the one who is preventing it from reaching its full potential.

Today we played a good PSG side, not great, but the way we played we made them look like top class. This was a winnable game through and through and their defense showed vulnerability whenever we moved forward, which we rarely did.

Mourinho's teams have been always great at counter-attacking, this Mourinho team, however, is surprisingly horrible at it. I wouldn't have that much of a problem with playing defensively if we would actually try to counter attack. Our players mostly just hoof the ball down the pitch, even when we try to counter-attack we lose the ball easily because of how slow we move the ball.

I don't agree... I'm very open to criticize him and I'm tempted to agree with you that while Mourinho is equally the hero and the bad guy in this team's potential, I still don't.

In a certain way he's become a hostage to players that aren't the level we need them to be. A team that has Cahill, Ivanovic, Mikel, and for some even Willian and Oscar just lacks the bench to make an impact in a match. I personally even include Cuadrado in that list because he didn't convince me even before coming here, and I expect him to struggle a bit as every new player coming to English football.

Also there's a lot of pressure on him to win something (preferably significant) especially after the fiasco at RM (fiasco the way he left, I don't think it's fair to call the guy who broke that Barcelona's team dominance a failure). Yes, he failed to win La Decima and he had a lot of problems in the dressing room, but the Madrid job is the hardest - by very far - job in the world of football managers. A lot of egos (that many times are created with the insane amount they pay for them and the hype the club creates about them). So he knows he needs to win. As he doesn't trust certain characters in his team - whether they are good or not technically and doesn't trust others technically - whether or not they have the right attitude, he isn't that much responsible for the team not reaching the heights it could. At least not yet. I think it's too premature to make such a bold statement.

He put this team together. He gave the board the names he wanted and the board worked to have them (although he's the one who did Cesc's convincing, I don't believe Cesc would have come if he hadn't talked to Mourinho - especially given their past and I doubt even further he would have come had the manager been someone else). Mourinho brought us back to big title contenders, something we haven't been since Carlo left. We won the UCL we had coming under very difficult (and lucky) circumstances. Big teams were more annoyed than afraid of playing us and despite what some here claim, I think Mourinho brought some of our respect back. Teams at least respect us now. When have you seen players we've seen this season showing respect to Chelsea? They acknowledge we are strong on UCL and EPL and while that's not all Mourinho he has a big saying on that imo.

So I can't say he's preventing this team from reaching the glory it could if I don't believe we would have said team and the respect we still have if he wasn't here. Yes, they say all that bs that we are the buses parkers, that he has a siege mentality in the club, saying too much to the media, getting too many fines and what not, but they still acknowledge what a respectable and big team we are. When was the last time people showed us that respect? Not since Carlo was here if you ask me, even then one could argue if it's been to this extent. And Mourinho did that without winning ANYTHING in his first season here. It's not simply the Mourinho effect, it's because people can see that he makes us stronger, that he's very intelligent, that he's the smartest buyer (and seller) out there now. He said it clearly that he gave the board a few names of players he wants and I'm sure he had to endorse (and assume responsibility if it backfired) selling players such as Mata, Luiz, de Bruyne and Lukaku.

He's been making more mistakes than I'd like him to do (imo anyway) and he's way more pragmatic (and even lacking some balls at some moments) than I think he needed to do, but he has a lot of pressure on his shoulders to win again, he has a difficult squad to manage for different reasons (we have talent/quality in some players and winning mentality in others, but very few with both - not mention a few key players that aren't on their peak yet and/or aren't that much experienced yet). This team has everything to be the next big deal in football, but we can't too anxious and demand it to happen now. Whether some players like Cuadrado, Oscar and Willian prove or not to be Chelsea material after being given time for that and therefore be replaced or kept, to be the team we all expect us to be demands time. I think if there wasn't so much pressure on him (and the players) to win something now (it's been a while for both, if you consider Europa League and Super Cup things beneath Chelsea and Mourinho) things would happen faster. But I'm positive we'll win the league this season - we could even do it comfortably and he deserves - as well as the players - ALL credit for that. Every manager will make mistakes, and I've blocked a few people here because I think they're completely unfair on Mourinho and I think they take their criticism and negativity to a level *I* can't cope with and that annoys me. It doesn't mean some of their points aren't valid.

My instance with Mourinho is much like my instance with Oscar. I think both need time, I think people can be too harsh on them and while I address weaknesses, mistakes and limitations on both, I still believe on them. Mourinho even more so than Oscar. Other manager - with less pressure to win and with a more bold approach could have taken more from this team even in the not so favorable situations we have that I just mentioned (we aren't as easily manageable as some think due to those limitations), but it's easy to give the team HE build, the players HE improved and give to someone else to polish it. Would this other manager sign exactly the right players we needed? Would he have improved the players that did improve under Mourinho (Hazard tactically, Ramires overall, Azpilicueta in the LB, Oscar tactically). Did I miss something or our deals before Mourinho were a little bit hit or miss? Underused by other managers even when the board did good business?

So I think it's unfair to come and say other would have make this team produce more when I don't believe other would have gotten those players together and wouldn't have contributed to their development as he did. At the end of the day he just needs to be bolder, but I believe most of his excessive pragmatism is coming from the pressure on him as a manager, the pressure on the club for the investment and squad it has as well as the team's shortness in a few aspects that are essential to make not only winners, but the team to beat. My biggest problem with his critics is that they take for granted the good he's done and don't value his work enough, only opening their mouths (or in this case release their fingers) to point his mistakes. Double standard-ish and unfair.

[GodZola 630]

Come on, that was a 'winnable' game through and through from minute one.

There was no need to be so defensive against such a weakened PSG - especially when they showed they were more worried about not conceding than scoring.

You see an opportunity to kill a match, you do it, you don't stick with your inadequate plan. If PSG were attacking us nonstop, then I'd agree with him, and the 1x1 would look much better than now.

We're always at risk of conceding because there's no defensive solidness in the team. Mourinho is counting with our ability to win at the Bridge and not concede there. It's not set on stone like that. He could have dared a little bit more today and he didn't.

I don't feel confident about any UCL chances this season. We started the season in a great way, then we started receding. Then now we have an inflexible approach to certain matches, even when the scenario presented is different. We'll defend like crazy against Spurs, and we won't even attack much against PSG. It'll be the match against Liverpool all over again, with us relying on the away goal advantage. The problem is with this defense it's too risky and we're one single goal (one that we have coming) at home to be kicked out of the competition. Why risk so much if we could have done something more in that first half? This isn't City in the league or Bayern, Barça, Madrid teams in Europe. This is struggling PSG with a few injured players limiting their horrible manager options. Blanc even got his tactics right today if you ask me, but Mourinho fell short imo.

The result is great, I see us going through, what I don't see is us making progress to become a team that could win this or a team that won't make me nervous about playing a small domestic cup final. I don't like feeling like that. I hope winning the league alleviates the pressure he clearly has on his shoulders about winning something again - preferably something expressive such as EPL or UCL. EPL we are in good position, but I don't see us even reaching the SFs on UCL depending on who we draw first (that if that home goal that we have coming doesn't arrive earlier).

You've made reference several times about our poor defence yet you also (like all the others) expect us to attack PSG & in your eyes aren't that special? Not a great but not too shabby either, they have some obvious quality that can take the game away from us which seems to have been taken too lightly on here.

Well I concur our defence at times is suspect & is going to be scrutinized more away from home against teams with more quality than what we face in the PL most weeks, hence the reason for José approach, coupled with the fact 5 players haven't trained (poss virus?) then his tactics become more understandable, though I'm unsure why Costa & Fabregas stayed on the pitch for so long?

Let's put it another way let's go all out attack & end up like le Arse & go out early?!

For the record I do not advocate how we have played negative in some games this season either but tonight certainly is not one of them, yes we got lucky & played poorly but I'll take a scoring draw in any CL knockout game.

Lastly, there won't be many if any sides that will go away & play 'open & expansive' football bar Le Arse & we all know what happens to them.....