The Mourinho Thread

[Victor Von Doom 258]

Jose >

Jose's def tactics >

[supporter 3,088]

Thinking about the match against PSG, I think Jose will return to bet on Zouma in midfield alongside Matic and Ramires. Perhaps it may seem an overly defensive approach, but placed Zouma and Ramires in midfield would give greater freedom of movement Matic, Fabregas, and Diego Costa Hazard which may be decisive in the important moments.

Regarding Willian, he is nonnegotiable for Jose, but this approach may despair PSG in the first half, and the second part we may disclose get Willian (who works and creates equally futbol) and with spaces, sentencing the tie.

We're ahead, but a goal against us would place us in a dangerous situation. So our main objetive has to be despair PSG, and when they hit tired and seeing the tie escapes them, we can kill off the tie on the counterattack.

Our defense in defensive situations.

Courtois

Cahill Zouma John Terry ©

Ivanovic Azpilicueta

Ramires Matic (Makes transitions)

Security wall

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fabregas

With freedom Fabregas is unstoppable

Diego Costa Hazard

Falling to the sides and creating spaces for Fabregas assists

Our team in ofensive situations.

Courtois

Cahill John Terry ©

Ivanovic Azpilicueta

Zouma Matic

Security wall again

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Fabregas

Ramires Hazard

Ramires plays on one side when standing as midfielder Fabregas.

It would not be an unfamiliar position for him.

Diego Costa

First change if the match becomes dangerous or we want to kill the tie.

Courtois

Cahill John Terry ©

Ivanovic Azpilicueta

Ramires / Zouma Matic

Willian Fabregas Hazard

Diego Costa

I know it is a very defensive approach. But watching the game the other day against Tottenham on Sunday, intentionally generate a match where PSG have the balloon but we have control of the pace of the game can be a way so that, with the passage of minutes, PSG go desperate and that could benefit us tremendously.

We're ahead, they are the ones who have to worry. Every minute that passes we will be closer to win the tie.

Regards.

[Milan 17,955]

[Ainsley Harriott 2,732]

We came out of the Matic suspension with best outcome possible: a trophy and 3 points. Props for that, after so much insecurity between us fans, it's nice to have these two wins under the belt.

However we really need improvements in the defence-to-attack transition. Whenever the opponent presses us we start to lose the midfield, can't hold on to the ball for more than 5 seconds and just look shaky overall. If we don't want to drop points against weaker opposition, that really has to be worked on. We also seem to have trouble finishing again.

Costa has to be given a wake-up call, he's been poor outside the game vs Spuds... Rémy also deserves a chance.

Hazard has to gain more goal-sense. Other than that he's been terrific. Fantastic to see him flourish with a Chelsea shirt.

Would also like to see Ramires get a little run of games besides Matic and Cesc. Oscar hasn't been convincing. Willian in the hole would do too.

Zouma back in defense - he did ok considering the circumstances, but I definitely hope this is the last I see of him as CDM.

Hoping to see more of Cuadrado too, he hasn't shown a lot so far but hasn't had much of a chance.

And that's all I had to say... Keep it up José. The PL is on huge step closer after today.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

I think Mourinho had the line-up spot on today tbh, after I was admittedly very worried we will struggle creating chances. Maybe apart from Oscar, but that's more with the player being an absolute passenger more than anything.

[Tomo 21,751]

I can only look in amazement at how he has kept Tibo and Cech both happy enough and performing to their maximum. Could you imagine AVB, Rafa or Scolari or any other manager pulling this off?

Neither are probably thrilled when they don't play but there hasn't been any murmurings of discontent and both give it their all when selected. I thought the Cech and Cudicini combo was as good as it was ever going to get but I was wrong.

I knew Mou was an excellent man manager but this takes the piss.

[The Chels 2,502]

However we really need improvements in the defence-to-attack transition. Whenever the opponent presses us we start to lose the midfield, can't hold on to the ball for more than 5 seconds and just look shaky overall.

It's been a problem for a while. I think a big cause is that our midfielders tend to be rather weak in 50-50 challenges. We seem to lose a lot more of them than you'd expect and winning/losing them is the difference between having to defend a (counter) attack and initiating a counter yourself.

I can only look in amazement at how he has kept Tibo and Cech both happy enough and performing to their maximum. Could you imagine AVB, Rafa or Scolari or any other manager pulling this off?

Neither are probably thrilled when they don't play but there hasn't been any murmurings of discontent and both give it their all when selected. I thought the Cech and Cudicini combo was as good as it was ever going to get but I was wrong.

I knew Mou was an excellent man manager but this takes the piss.

I think it helps that both keepers know their fate at the end of the season. Cech will almost certainly leave and Courtois will be made the undisputed number one GK.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

I can only look in amazement at how he has kept Tibo and Cech both happy enough and performing to their maximum. Could you imagine AVB, Rafa or Scolari or any other manager pulling this off?

Neither are probably thrilled when they don't play but there hasn't been any murmurings of discontent and both give it their all when selected. I thought the Cech and Cudicini combo was as good as it was ever going to get but I was wrong.

I knew Mou was an excellent man manager but this takes the piss.

Cech has always been professional, he became a legend here so obviously he is not gonna destroy his legacy by trying to end it in a bad way. Courtois is happy because he played for like 99% of all the important matches. Also it looks like Cech is leaving in the summer anyway so I think it is good by Jose, but nothing special. They probably had a chat about it before this season and Cech agrees to give one last season for the club out of respect and remain professional while doing so.

If we really want to see how good he can handle this wait until we reject a Arsenal/Liverpool bid of like 10m for Cech in the summer and forces him to stay basically, then we will find out a lot more. I agree though Jose is a great motivator for most players and one of the best manager in the world at that(although he couldn't do it to Torres )

[CHOULO19 24,332]

As I said prior to the match, the lineup today was spot on. The tactics turned out to be good as well. Yes, the game was too open to actually control, but to be fair, Costa scores 1vs1 on 35 mins and the match is over. Same applies to Rami and Hazard on several occasions. Only thing that frustrated me is how long it took him to take Diego off in the second half. But again, Jose has showed great pragmatism and tactical know-how against a very tough team when both of our DMs where out.

[mufilika 101]

THere are empirical evidence that we do a lot better than any other big team in Englad against big teams. 0 defeats against City in the League (2 wins and 2 draws), 0 defats against Arsenal in League (1 win and 2 draws), 4 wins against Liverpool in League, 0 defeats against Manchester Unuted (2 draws and 1 win), 1 defeat against Toteenham in League (1 draw and 2 wins).

About our counter attack one of the problems we have is that Hazard is a great attacking but he suffers in counter attack, the same for Fabregas, Oscar can't do ir aso. We should do a lot better in that, anyway we still are by far the best team en Englad in every aspect. Specialy

Hazard needs to improve a ot playing in counter attack, sometimes we seem Barcelona that didn't know what to do when they were in numerical superiority in attack, and every time tried to do the same.

Yet there's no evidence that another style (a more balanced style) wouldn't work or be as effective with the type of players we have. We have the quality to win big games without going the ultra defensive route. and no one is advocating a gungho style neither but to attack and defend sensibly rather than full on defensive.

So players like hazard and Fabregas, who aren't suited to that style of play, have to adapt but the manager shouldn't try to be more tactically flexible to get the best out of them?

So we should adapt the tactics of the teams we are beating. Yeah, that's makes alot of sense.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

It's been a problem for a while. I think a big cause is that our midfielders tend to be rather weak in 50-50 challenges. We seem to lose a lot more of them than you'd expect and winning/losing them is the difference between having to defend a (counter) attack and initiating a counter yourself.

I think it helps that both keepers know their fate at the end of the season. Cech will almost certainly leave and Courtois will be made the undisputed number one GK.

This match showed once again how our players are weak under pressure. No one except hazard could get away from pressing, without losing the ball or kicking it in the air. And combining this with what you said about us poor in 50-50 makes for lack of control.

[LAB 1,030]

Jose has pulled off a trophy win and 3 points away at WH without Matic and Mikel. Looks easier than it actually is. It's not just about the line up selection. Hats off. :tophat:

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

We've also been at the top of the table since August which is pretty incredible.

[Special Juan 28,133]

I doubted the line up yesterday and I should know better really. There is a reason he's the best in the world.

[Chelsea4 1,521]

Mourinho: Loftus-Cheek will be a big surprise next season

If we dont fight for the title this season and if we have no ALCO pressure, Loftus-Cheek would be much more on the ground, "said Mourinho added:

"Believe me, this kid next season will be a big surprise in the Premier League.