The Mourinho Thread

[Jase 43,479]

Chelsea manager looking for a new team of 'untouchables' to match Stamford Bridge's class of 2006

[sutro 1,026]

I feel like a starving zombie on here ....

[Jase 43,479]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/03/jose-mourinho-chelsea-oscar-dip-form?CMP=twt_gu

Mourinho, who expects the club to secure the Spain striker Diego Costa from Atlético Madrid for around £32m this summer, had complained after losing to Crystal Palace at the end of March that many of his younger players lacked the required mentality, but he is convinced he can still coax consistent form from the creative players at the club. "You can help them to build 'them'," he said, referring back to the word "balls" he had scribbled on a journalist's notepad to describe what his players were missing at Selhurst Park. "I'm not saying I'm going to succeed with every one of them.

"But, for example, I have Dr Paco Biosca, the doctor at Shakhtar Donetsk for many years with Willian, and he says he doesn't recognise Willian now: the professional, the player, the commitment. The only thing he recognises is the talent.

"You can't succeed with everybody. You try to help but it's up to them. Every one who is in an age of improvement needs to improve. You can't improve John Terry, Ashley Cole. If you keep them in the position where they are, it's fantastic. All of the others have to improve. Has André Schürrle had a good season? Not bad but next season must be better. Mohamed Salah, Oscar, Willian, Eden Hazard … all of them are in an age of improvement."

[Joker10 946]

Chelsea manager looking for a new team of 'untouchables' to match Stamford Bridge's class of 2006

Damn that article demoralized me.

[ZanSnake 1,211]

Nice to see Azpil giving a mention as a 'spine' as well as Kalas.

I am really 'giddy' about the future, for the first time in some many years i might add, under a manager and what we can become. We have the potential (been there for a couple of years) and now we have the mastermind!

Bring on summer preseason

[The Skipper 20,593]

I'm using your post, but I could have quoted many others.

Mourinho said himself early in December, before the Arsenal game (I don't remember in which post-match conference, I guess against Sunderland in the COC or against Stoke) that he felt like he needed to change the style and go a little more defensive and pragmatic because the team wasn't ready for the kind of football he wanted them to play otherwise it'd jeopardize the goals in the season and he was saying constantly the main goal this season was qualifying to next UCL (as well as qualifying to round of 16 in the UCL, I just don't remember if this specific interview was before or after we confirmed our place in round of 16).

So why are people acting surprised now (don't mean you)?

He said it BEFORE he did it and he justified it and a few of us have been reminding everyone about it for a few weeks now. But people are so ready to blame someone, to disregard the manager that changed us a lot this season. We weren't lucky winners (or losers) through the competitions we played. We reached UCL semifinal deservingly getting passed Gala and PSG and we lost deservingly too when a team was better than us.

We won the double of the two possible EPL champions and we played better than them in half those matches. we were competitive against the other 'big sides', but our inability to break down defenses led us to drop points against smaller sides. That's also a problem Mourinho, Hazard and others addressed and I'm positive they're aware something needs to be done.

Mourinho wanted us to play a more attractive or at least offensive style, we weren't ready for that, he took a couple of steps back and set up in a way we would reach the seasons' objectives that have been broadcast by him since the season started which I mentioned above.

But there's also another thing he's been saying for a long time now and we are entitled to ask for results not only based on his words, but also because it means we gave him time to settle and assess the real situation: he's been saying next season we'll fight for the titles, we'll be favorites, we'll be big horses, etc... Mourinho said that and therefore we can come here this time next season and question him if he doesn't reach it (even then we need to be sober enough to know that sometimes you just lose for a small detail, some races are tight). If we present the same football a year from now, he's failed to his own words. If we still struggle against smaller sides, he's failed his own words too. But if we make progress and become real contenders for EPL and UCL (even if for some tragedy we don't win), then it's mission accomplished and titles will come (I'm positive they'll already come next season).

So he announced to the whole world what were the club's goals this season, when he realized he had to stop the work to move to the style he wanted otherwise those objectives would be jeopardized he again announced to the whole world he was taking a step back (what's the point of continuing the evolution of having a more attractive football if we miss our spot in the UCL and can only be able to show such style in Europa League? Arsenal just didn't miss their UCL spot because Everton chocked hard). And lastly, he's been putting a lot of pressure on himself and in the team admitting and taking the role of protagonist next season. He's saying his team will be one of the top dogs next season. His communication has been clear and fine and I think he's been very fair in the objectives he set for the team this season and the next as those objectives seem coherent,realistic and attainable.

This is a very good post, and puts everything into perspective excellently. Still doesn't mean that Mou hasn't made mistakes in certain games and that we were way too conservative in certain games, but yes, this is very correct.

Mourinho has the whole off season now to complete his team, whether he'll make the right moves remains to be seen... No excuses anymore next season.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Chelsea manager looking for a new team of 'untouchables' to match Stamford Bridge's class of 2006

So according to this article, because of what Mou said in the PC our new untouchables are "Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Matic and Ramires and, possibly, Willian". Couldn't be anymore wrong IMO. There aren't any untouchables in this team yet.

[lionsden 4,689]

Chelsea manager looking for a new team of 'untouchables' to match Stamford Bridge's class of 2006

"plus the stability that Matic and Ramires can give"

I guess we will be seeing more of Ramires next season as a starter to my disappointment. The dream of a DLP to partner matic can die for now.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

So according to this article, because of what Mou said in the PC our new untouchables are "Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Matic and Ramires and, possibly, Willian". Couldn't be anymore wrong IMO. There aren't any untouchables in this team yet.

And neither should there ever be. More rubbish from the journos

[Reddish-Blue 2,382]

Mourinho wanted us to play a more attractive or at least offensive style, we weren't ready for that, he took a couple of steps back and set up in a way we would reach the seasons' objectives that have been broadcast by him since the season started which I mentioned above.

So he announced to the whole world what were the club's goals this season, when he realized he had to stop the work to move to the style he wanted otherwise those objectives would be jeopardized he again announced to the whole world he was taking a step back (what's the point of continuing the evolution of having a more attractive football if we miss our spot in the UCL and can only be able to show such style in Europa League? Arsenal just didn't miss their UCL spot because Everton chocked hard). And lastly, he's been putting a lot of pressure on himself and in the team admitting and taking the role of protagonist next season. He's saying his team will be one of the top dogs next season. His communication has been clear and fine and I think he's been very fair in the objectives he set for the team this season and the next as those objectives seem coherent,realistic and attainable.

Everton were only in contention for the last UCL place because Arsenal choked mid-way through the season (due to injuries, mental fragility)

Nice post btw

[The Skipper 20,593]

And neither should there ever be. More rubbish.

Mou never said anything about them being the untouchables, the article writer just assumed so (and wrongly IMO).

[The Skipper 20,593]

"plus the stability that Matic and Ramires can give"

I guess we will be seeing more of Ramires next season as a starter to my disappointment. The dream of a DLP to partner matic can die for now.

I sincerely hope Mourinho isn't thinking our starting CMs should be Ramires and Matic next year. Ramires is very useful for some situations but we desperately need a DLP, I really hope Mou sees that.

[lionsden 4,689]

I sincerely hope Mourinho isn't thinking our starting CMs should be Ramires and Matic next year. Ramires is very useful for some situations but we desperately need a DLP, I really hope Mou sees that.

I hope so too but you have to admit that quote and the amount of games ramires has played/started this season when available does indicate that he's a Jose favourite. We need to do much better than ramires.

[Henrique 9,133]

LMAO

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/10806112/Chelsea-manager-looking-for-a-new-team-of-untouchables-to-match-Stamford-Bridges-class-of-2006.html

This thing is depressing at best. Hazard and Oscar future are in doubt, while Ivanovic, Cahill, Azi, JT older versio, Matic and Ramires are the new spine. From Ballack. Carvalho, JT younger version, Makelele, Drogba and Essiento this?

Matic+Ramires is his ideal pivot? I said in another topic, this season had been Ramires worst one. He was a different player in past two seasons. In the current one he became nothing more than a frustrating player, and a pain to watch, but it seems Mourinho is really happy with he saw.

I don't even have to mention our frustrating and laughable full back situations, and an average CB in disguise. Dark times ahead...

[Henrique 9,133]

The kind of negativity Mourinhos brings is really incredible. You just need to read people fighting each other in the player's topic to understand what I mean. He really created an all-in situation for next season. It might be a turning point for his career. A bad one.

[Henrique 9,133]

Superb article about Mourinho from Owen:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/10804753/Michael-Owen-Jose-Mourinhos-tactics-are-effective-but-certainly-not-genius.html

"Mourinho will spend the summer hunting the next Drogba but when he does make signings do not expect much to change.

The Chelsea of next season will be the same but better. The Mourinho masterplan will be to recruit players to make his current, ultra-cautious approach even more effective, not to alter the pattern of play.

It will make Chelsea as formidable as they have always been under Mourinho, but please use the phrase ‘tactical genius' sparingly."

But I'm afraid he is way too optimistic about our prospects for next season, not sure if we will be better or more effective, that remains to be seen.

[didierforever 7,349]

so has it come down to THIS. posting articles written by micheal owen? whats next? jamie redknapp articles and quotes!!!!

[Roquila 1,335]

so has it come down to THIS. posting articles written by micheal owen? whats next? jamie redknapp articles and quotes!!!!

How to keep yourself fit and wich is the best way to live. Tonight at 8PM with Harry Redknapp.