The Mourinho Thread

[Barbara 15,149]

It's funny how things work out. Back in November, had Chelsea hired a competent manager instead of Rafa, Mourinho would not be in charge now.

according to the man himself he knew he was going to come back here in December and talked to Roman in January... so I'm quite sure we could have signed anyone except overrated Guardiola and they would still leave for Mourinho to come.

Mourinho >>>>> Guardiola

Also I saw someone mentioning the Godfather nickname but I couldn't find the article here, so here it goes

José Mourinho turns Godfather on return to English family at Chelsea

Older and wiser, the Portuguese realises he needs to set an example on and off the pitch at Stamford Bridge

José Mourinho seemed rather tickled by the latest moniker to be ushered his way. The Chelsea manager was seated in one of the boardrooms at Kuala Lumpur's Club Saujana resort surveying a Premier League landscape stripped of Sir Alex Ferguson and in which only he and Arsène Wenger have claimed the title. At 50 he is almost one of the old breed these days, with three of his former assistants now coaching rivals in the division. If André Villas-Boas, Steve Clarke and Brendan Rodgers are his proteges, capos who have flown the nest, then he can now be considered The Godfather.

The nickname prompted the chuckle that had been intended, yet the Portuguese recognised the implications. Mourinho used to be English football's loose cannon, a figure whose unpredictability was box office. He could be charming one moment, explosively dismissive the next, his ability to undermine opponents long before his team had taken the field the stuff of legend. Those tempestuous last few months at Real Madrid had suggested little had changed in the six years since his acrimonious departure from Stamford Bridge, but he would insist plenty has. He has to act his age.

"I've won all the English competitions, I've almost the most number of Champions League appearances as a manager, and I'm the only one [in the division] who's a European champion," he said. "So maybe I have a bit more responsibility as one of the more experienced guys now. I have that situation added on my shoulders. I have to be an example for everybody, not just in terms of expectations but everything: conduct, support … I have to be there for everyone if they need me. I have felt it over the last few years, in Uefa meetings, trying to establish new ideas to improve the Champions League and Uefa competitions. A respect was there and my responsibility was getting stronger. If that happens too in the Premier League, I have to answer in a positive way."

The idea that Mourinho, once such a politically provocative figure, will become his fellow coaches' go-to man, imparting advice as Ferguson – whom the Portuguese referred to as the "Boss" and the "Dad" – did behind the scenes, reflects his standing. He returns to Chelsea a two-times Champions League winner, his record glittering upon every stage he has graced. They are to name a street after him, an Avenida de Mourinho, in his home town of Setúbal later this year. The assumption is this team, inspired by his presence, will go on to dominate in the Premier League once again, as they did with titles in 2005 and 2006. Yet, while the club has grown so used to claiming silverware, the challenge ahead is very different to that accepted when he was lured from Porto nine years ago.

"I faced a different profile of squad back then, if not a different profile of ambitions," he said. "One team built many years ago is disappearing and we're facing the new situation of financial fair play, so I'm working now with a squad whose best years are to come. After three years at Real, this profile of job comes at a good moment for me. I'm being a bit of a coach, a bit of a teacher. The (young) players have big space in their grey matter, lots of neurons free, ready to absorb and process information. I have to prepare the long-term future, and I don't want to be evaluated or loved for what I did before. I want to be loved because of what I'm doing now and what I will do in the future."

That task is to overthrow Manchester United while also fending off the threat of Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City, Wenger's Arsenal and Villas-Boas at Spurs. It is David Moyes at Old Trafford who draws the focus, a manager awaiting his first major honour and tasked with succeeding Ferguson, one of the greatest managers of all time. "Before I won the first trophy I had not won anything, so everyone is the same," said Mourinho. "He is experienced. To win trophies with Everton is not easy. When he finished fourth or fifth there, he didn't take the medal home but it's a trophy.

"One of the most difficult things in the club is to create a victory culture, one where you walk through the front door and smell the success, smell the confidence, smell the self-esteem. When I first came to Chelsea we were training at Harlington [the former university sports ground now occupied by Queens Park Rangers] and the only trophy they had from the previous season was the Malaysian Cup they won here. Now Chelsea is a big club.

"But other times you arrive and just think: 'This is already a big club.' David is in a big club with a winning culture already there, and that is a help. Everybody there knows how to win, but he must be the proudest man in the world and has a huge chance.

"City have bought four important players who will improve their fantastic squad. In my first time here people always put pressure on me, saying: 'You buy this, you spend that, you buy the title.' So I hope now they say that about the other side. But it's not about the money. It's always difficult to win. You can have the best players in the world, but you will have other kinds of problems to deal with, in terms of some choices, changes, rotations and turnovers."

City have already claimed a league title since they were transformed by Abu Dhabi money. Wenger's Arsenal, in contrast, have not lifted a trophy since Mourinho's first year in English football and, yet, he still considers them a threat. "They have their philosophy, and for some reason they do it. For sure, their manager does really good in the job. If not they wouldn't keep him. They will sign some players for sure to improve the team, and the manager brings stability. If he signs a new contract it means everything is comfortable and the board and the team know where they want to go. I think they are contenders."

And Villas-Boas, his former opposition scout whose decision to depart Internazionale for his own career in management so damaged their relationship? "All those people who worked with me, for me, none of them found my office locked. They don't have my files hidden under the bed. Everything was there for them: they had the chance to learn, to study, to be part of discussions and to be part of my training process. So for him, for Steve, for Brendan, I am very happy to see them successful.

"What they achieve is down to them. I'm just happy to help in their formation, in the same way Mr [bobby] Robson or Louis van Gaal did with me. After that, when they fly, when they fly well, I'm happy for them."

That prompted a moment's hesitation before, an hour after the nickname was first mooted, it was officially taken up.

"Maybe I am going to be The Godfather," he added with a smile. Chelsea are glad to have their seasoned champion back in place.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jul/19/jose-mourinho-chelsea-godfather

also in another Guardian piece he said this:

José Mourinho has warned John Terry he is not safe when it comes to selection with the restored Chelsea manager stressing all his players, including the club captain, must now work to make themselves "untouchable".

(...)

Mourinho, who has denied any interest in the Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuaín and either Daniele De Rossi at Roma or Luiz Gustavo of Bayern Munich, had once described a nucleus of his side as "untouchable". "But that word comes [in] at the point the work they do makes them untouchable," he said. "And that takes time. They become untouchable. They don't just get the stamp because I want them to be. They get there themselves."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jul/19/jose-mourinho-john-terry-chelsea

That's the kind of honesty and straightforwardness I love about Mourinho.

He doesn't lie saying there are no untouchable players in his squads because there are, just like in any other squad. He admits he can give the 'seal' to who earns it while the other managers are normally diplomatic and hypocrite saying everyone is treated the same. Everyone play by the same rules, but everyone isn't the same!

[ZanSnake 1,211]

What a love most by the fact that Jose is back, is the fact it seems to be a natural fit - there is no prancing around, hiding behind the card of it being a complete new chapter and the expectations - he charges into them with brutal honesty, and isn't afraid of treading into unknown water, he has become an identity, which we have lacked since Carlo, and has the feisty element that was missed with the suave manner of Roberto in contrast. In terms of now, i think he does have a bit of suave to him which he has gained with more experience and he is using that to feed into his charisma compared to his first run as manager.

There isn't a waiting period for him to stamp his authority into the team, he has done it from day one - easily making us one of the favourites, if not thee, favourite to win the league. And with Moyes coming into a sense of a higher grade of caliber, he will continuously test him like he has already with the Rooney saga.

I dunno if that makes sense to others, but that is something grand to be able to see in my eyes - finally we have the bite back in our charge, and that might have us gain what has been so illustrious in the last couple of seasons. Hail the Godfather!

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Nice read:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/jose-mourinho-you-have-to-praise-the-guys-who-play-at-their-limits-they-give-everything-they-are-not-superstars--chelsea-manager-has-warning-for-clubs-special-ones-8735139.html

[wj818 25]

http://m.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jul/27/jose-mourinho-special-chelsea Not sure if someone posted this article already but a nice read. Gives an insight of how he wants mata and hazard to play.

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

So after reading the above articles, it's pretty obvious it's going to be a much tougher season for both Mata and Hazard. Mou will demand and expect a lot from them. Mata is first choice RW and will have to work hard on defense as well which will def be very demanding for him. Hazard will be first choice LW but with the added pressure of providing those big goals.

He didn't specifically mention Oscar or KDB, but considering what he said about Mata and Hazard one can deduce that Oscar or KDB will be first choice CAM.

I also think he really wants to keep Traore, and considering his love for left-footed RWs I bet he would have given him a lot of games too even if he's only 17.

Mata - Oscar/KDB - Hazard

ST

[Barbara 15,149]

That's what I said the other day:

I meant that if a guy is special he will receive special treatment under Mourinho, as Ronaldo and Sneijder did... the most special in our team imo is Hazard and when he's ready (close to his peak and during his peak) I have no doubts he will have different treatment from Mourinho in the both instances I explained exhaustively in my post: defensive obligations and patience/complacency on bad performances' streaks.

That's what Mourinho said now:

"We've had Joe, Robben and Duff, Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel di María and Mesut Ozil … with me [at Real Madrid], players like Eden Hazard will have freedom. The kid has a lot of talent, but it's about what he does next. He has to go from a great talent to great numbers: how many goals, how many assists, how many winning goals, how many goals in big matches. Football is about numbers in a very pragmatic way. I'm ready to help him, I'm ready to work with him. And he must be ready too."

I feel backed up for saying the other day that Mourinho would make Hazard - not Mata - the player he gives freedom to. Eden is going to be his Wesley/Cris. Not backed up by only saying he has favorites (who he called the next day 'untouchable' players - in the exact argument I gave: he has players he doesn't bench no matter how long they slump and he has players he gives freedom from defensive responsibilities. I feel really backed up by his words. I may not understand much about football - I don't -, but after following this guy closely for the last 9 years, I understand a lot about how Mourinho's head works).

Which is why I keep insisting, Mata will change under Mourinho for better or for worse. He will have to improve his work rate otherwise he'll lose space. Mourinho knows the star in this team is Hazard. It's not diminishing Mata, it's just putting Eden where he belongs. Even a blind can see that. If he has to sacrifice someone he will sacrifice Mata - because that's the obvious thing to do.

thanks for posting the articles

[TrippingStep 336]

So after reading the above articles, it's pretty obvious it's going to be a much tougher season for both Mata and Hazard. Mou will demand and expect a lot from them. Mata is first choice RW and will have to work hard on defense as well which will def be very demanding for him. Hazard will be first choice LW but with the added pressure of providing those big goals.

He didn't specifically mention Oscar or KDB, but considering what he said about Mata and Hazard one can deduce that Oscar or KDB will be first choice CAM.

I also think he really wants to keep Traore, and considering his love for left-footed RWs I bet he would have given him a lot of games too even if he's only 17.

Mata - Oscar/KDB - Hazard

ST

I don't actually really like what he said.

Ok Ronaldo is a goal scoring machine at Madrid but he has become very one dimensional in his game, Ozil plays better with Germany.

At Inter, he had forwards and great defensive players in midfield or fullback with Zanetti who could play good at both, Motta, Cambiasso.

That reinforces my mind that KDB and Schurrle will have the best stats this year like I said earlier. They fit better his direct style in attack.

For me Hazard is at his best like Benitez used him the last three four months. More involved in the build-up, driving from deeper positions. More like a Iniesta playing in the wing with a bit more pace.

I'm not sure we have the midfield to play the game that Mourinho likes, eventhough we will have more options that last year.

Even if Eden will have better stats than last year, I'm sure it would have been the case if we would have started the season with the same philosophy than the last months under Benitez and with an improved midfield as well.

[pHaRaOn 2,131]

Jose got tattoo

[Heisenberg 1,824]

Jose got tattoo

A very simple, nice one.

[iceboy 992]

Tancredi Palmeri ‏@tancredipalmeri9h

Benitez on Mourinho to Cadena Ser: "Look at the games we had in the Cup and in Champions: the defeats must burn"

[Liquidator 5,176]

I hate tattoos but its on Mourinho, so I love it

[nachikethas 1,149]

mourinho the god father.

sorry if its a repost

[Kojo 4,676]

mourinho the god father.

sorry if its a repost

Hmmm that's strange, because I would now currently say Ferguson is out of the picture

[edenhazard17 281]

Jose talked about Youth Competitions :

MOURINHO: RAISING THE YOUNG

http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3336366

'In my time in England before the competitive calendar was not like this,' says Mourinho. 'Now when I was asking about the Under-21s I saw a real calendar, so if Feruz and Loftus-Cheek and Christensen and all these guys stay at Chelsea [rather than go on loan], they will have the Youth Champions League, the Under-21s league, the FA Youth Cup, the youth league. I was talking with Michael Emenalo and Neil Bath about this and the players will have around 50 matches.

He also mentioned Loftus-Cheek and Christensen. Very interesting.

[Mustafa 885]

Jose got tattoo

If you look closely you'll be able to work out that it says : Carefree... We are the famous CFC

[Strike 6,968]

Jose is more like a senior player in the team rather than the 'manager' of the team. He is someone who is a representative of the players rather than an authority figure watching over the players (eg - Carlo) When his team scores an important goal, he will sprint down the touchline and knee-slide. Barely any other managers do that.

That's what makes him unique

[Magic Lamps 11,452]

Jose is more like a senior player in the team rather than the 'manager' of the team. He is someone who is a representative of the players rather than an authority figure watching over the players (eg - Carlo) When his team scores an important goal, he will sprint down the touchline and knee-slide. Barely any other managers do that.

That's what makes him unique

True, Jose is especially emotional on the touchline but all managers are and there are many like him who do not really contain it like Jürgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel or Jürgen Klinsmann.

Carlo is a father-friend figuere AND authority just like Jose, that's what makes them worldclass managers, they know their players get along with them personal but are also able to impose their ideas upon them, Jose is jsut the best at that.

Of course Jose is unique, just like any manager is. but it is not just because he slides on his knees which many mangers do, or because he is close to the players which also many managers are. it's just the sum of his managerial and personal qualities most notably his man management, tactical skill. Let's not reduce him on any trivial aspects and just enjoy what a great manager we got.

[Strike 6,968]

True, Jose is especially emotional on the touchline but all managers are and there are many like him who do not really contain it like Jürgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel or Jürgen Klinsmann.

Carlo is a father-friend figuere AND authority just like Jose, that's what makes them worldclass managers, they know their players get along with them personal but are also able to impose their ideas upon them, Jose is jsut the best at that.

Of course Jose is unique, just like any manager is. but it is not just because he slides on his knees which many mangers do, or because he is close to the players which also many managers are. it's just the sum of his managerial and personal qualities most notably his man management, tactical skill. Let's not reduce him on any trivial aspects and just enjoy what a great manager we got.

Carlo is a father-figure, not at all like Jose in how he handles the players.

And the knee-slide bit is not the main point though. Not many managers have that passion for the team like Jose. Tactical skills can only take a manager so far.