The Mourinho Thread

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Its a matter of opinion. I'd prefer to keep the pressure to score another looking at the positions of positive play that we're in at the time.

And I wasn't saying it works all the time either, you know that, disengage that thing Last season we had to shut up shop to a degree, like you say, our team was hamstrung by the personnel, an opinion I share.

This season I did not expect to employ those tactics, its cost us so far and I'd rather see us make a positive change to it before the CL later stages.

Maybe I'm more of a Jose disciple than most. We haven't lost... Away games at tough grounds are not the place to be cavalier and offensive, we controlled Utd and they got the benefit of a poor refereeing decision. Against City at no point in the match were we in the ascendency mainly because they are a damn good team.

There are teams and situations where going mano e mano are to our advantage like Swansea and Everton. To me each game has its own unique circumstances that dictate what is the right course of action, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. So long as Jose gets it right more often than not I will have no gripe... we're undefeated in the toughest competition in the world and we probably deserve a 100% record, unfortunately luck wasn't on our side on two occasions.

Carefree at the top of the league!

[The Chels 2,502]

It is not necessarily just a change of personnel that is leading to late goals, but also a shift in mentality from the players on the pitch. As pointed out by The Daily Telegraph columnist Gary Neville, against City, Chelsea went from 55 per cent possession in the 10 minutes before their goal to 26 per cent in the 10 minutes after.

It was a similar, if not so dramatic, story against United when Chelsea went from 64 per cent possession to 45 per cent either side of their goal.

Those statistics would suggest, instructed to do so or otherwise, the Blues are sitting back. Mourinho, however, insisted his team did go for the kill against United at Old Trafford saying: “We did. We did. We did. We did. We did. But, in the last part of the game, the wind was very strong. It was too windy. We couldn’t do better.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/11202501/Jose-Mourinho-on-alert-for-QPR-late-show-with-Chelsea-in-bad-habit-of-conceding-goals-in-closing-stages.html

Asked about his side leaking late goals this term, a less than concerned Mourinho said: "We conceded a goal against Man City, against Crystal Palace, against Shrewsbury. Nothing else. "United? Ah, that was not a goal. Not a goal."

https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/football-mourinho-sees-room-improvement-223743943--sow.html

Hmm blaming the wind for us not being able to kill off United is a pretty lame excuse. How about against 10-man City? And it's inevitably going to cost us in the CL if Jose really thinks it's not a problem.

[quickpassnmove 924]

We need a killer right winger. We don't have one, full stop.

I don't know what will come next in center midfield, but let's just leave CM to simmer for the moment. Oscar isn't impressing me pushed forward (never has).

[Jase 43,479]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/11202501/Jose-Mourinho-on-alert-for-QPR-late-show-with-Chelsea-in-bad-habit-of-conceding-goals-in-closing-stages.html

https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/football-mourinho-sees-room-improvement-223743943--sow.html

Hmm blaming the wind for us not being able to kill off United is a pretty lame excuse. How about against 10-man City? And it's inevitably going to cost us in the CL if Jose really thinks it's not a problem.

I do not want to react negatively or overreact but blaming the wind?! Where on earth did that excuse come from? Hoping he was just trolling around when he said that.

[The Chels 2,502]

I do not want to react negatively or overreact but blaming the wind?! Where on earth did that excuse come from? Hoping he was just trolling around when he said that.

Yeah I think (hope) he's trolling or the wind is some kind of metaphor for Phil Dowd because that excuse is atrocious otherwise.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Yeah I think (hope) he's trolling or the wind is some kind of metaphor for Phil Dowd because that excuse is atrocious otherwise.

Exactly, it is sarcasm. He could just said the referee, but it will cause him trouble. Still classy, much better than blaming "weight of shirts" imo.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Jose Mourinho can top Sir Alex Ferguson to become the greatest manager EVER... if he stays at Chelsea, says Harry Redknapp

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2816260/Jose-Mourinho-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-greatest-manager-stays-Chelsea-says-Harry-Redknapp.html

[chelseafc9010 224]

We need a killer right winger. We don't have one, full stop.

I don't know what will come next in center midfield, but let's just leave CM to simmer for the moment. Oscar isn't impressing me pushed forward (never has).

Andre Shurrle?

[stroey 2,525]

Post match QPR interview

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/9544946/chelsea-fail-to-impress-mourinho-

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Chelsea and Jose Mourinho are by no means perfect - but they look like champions

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/chelsea-jose-mourinho-no-means-4551948

[Fernando 6,585]

Watching the game of city against United, and this is the only difference that tends to bother me about Mourinho.

While pellegrini goes for the kill, Mourinho would normally goes to set up shop.

And you know what, ever since that 1-1 against Barcelona in the CL semi final I have been scared of that.

I rather die fighting then sit back and defend.

Now I'm not saying to attack for attack like mindless fool as Rodgers did, but at least make subs to help press, have control of the ball and such then reverting to a all low block formation.

[Cholo 428]

Watching the game of city against United, and this is the only difference that tends to bother me about Mourinho.

While pellegrini goes for the kill, Mourinho would normally goes to set up shop.

And you know what, ever since that 1-1 against Barcelona in the CL semi final I have been scared of that.

I rather die fighting then sit back and defend.

Now I'm not saying to attack for attack like mindless fool as Rodgers did, but at least make subs to help press, have control of the ball and such then reverting to a all low block formation.

But City almost fucked up and Pellegrini's plan would have gone wrong

[kellzfresh 7,229]

But City almost fucked up and Pellegrini's plan would have gone wrong

Exactly. Manutd almost equalized, if they had 11 men, they probably would have

[darrus 422]

Watching the game of city against United, and this is the only difference that tends to bother me about Mourinho.

While pellegrini goes for the kill, Mourinho would normally goes to set up shop.

And you know what, ever since that 1-1 against Barcelona in the CL semi final I have been scared of that.

I rather die fighting then sit back and defend.

Now I'm not saying to attack for attack like mindless fool as Rodgers did, but at least make subs to help press, have control of the ball and such then reverting to a all low block formation.

It didn't prevent MU from spending the last 15 minutes in attack despite being one man down. And two weeks ago this same strategy made Pellegrini lose 2-0 lead against CSKA which may very well cost them a place in CL play-off in the end.

So - there's no ideal way.

[Jase 43,479]

Wonder what the reaction here would have been like if Mourinho decides to do what Pellegrini did in the derby earlier - 1-0 up at HOME against 10-man United and took off 1 striker for a defensive midfielder to shut the game out, rather than going for the kill...

[DH1988 1,348]

Once again failed to kill the game against QPR at least Jose now recognizes that and said it in the post match interview

[Jase 43,479]

I know Mourinho started the whole debate about the home atmosphere thing but since we now have a separate and specific thread for the discussion, I've moved all related posts to that thread. So, please continue the debate in that thread. Link is below..

http://forum.talkchelsea.net/topic/19202-atmosphere-at-home-games/

[Jase 43,479]

Watching the game of city against United, and this is the only difference that tends to bother me about Mourinho.

While pellegrini goes for the kill, Mourinho would normally goes to set up shop.

And you know what, ever since that 1-1 against Barcelona in the CL semi final I have been scared of that.

I rather die fighting then sit back and defend.

Now I'm not saying to attack for attack like mindless fool as Rodgers did, but at least make subs to help press, have control of the ball and such then reverting to a all low block formation.

Erm, you do realize that Pellegrini eventually shut the game out, don't you? He may have brought on Dzeko to go 2 upfront but when that didn't work, he immediately took off Aguero for a defensive midfielder in Fernandinho to try and see the game out, at 1-0 against 10-man United at HOME! TC would probably have turned into a circus if Mourinho did that. Pellegrini's naivety could have so easily cost City had United been more clinical and made better decisions in the final third.

[Fernando 6,585]

Erm, you do realize that Pellegrini eventually shut the game out, don't you? He may have brought on Dzeko to go 2 upfront but when that didn't work, he immediately took off Aguero for a defensive midfielder in Fernandinho to try and see the game out, at 1-0 against 10-man United at HOME! TC would probably have turned into a circus if Mourinho did that. Pellegrini's naivety could have so easily cost City had United been more clinical and made better decisions in the final third.

I made that comment as soon as he took out Milner for nasri. That was an attacking intent at the moment, as to opposed taking out Willian for mikel.

And as you mentioned he then did defensive tactics and that almost cost him.

This is why I'm not too keen on this.

Sometimes it works like it happen with city in this game and sometimes it doesn't work like it happen against us.

Like I said the best thing is to get subs that will help us regain the ball and have possession then going into a low block and give them all the possession.

The best example was Barcelona vs United in cl final. They was winning 3 to 1 and still kept possession so as to not allowed them to get back into the game.

If we sit back and have no possession or press we invite them to have more clear cut chances.

[Rom2013 446]

I made that comment as soon as he took out Milner for nasri. That was an attacking intent at the moment, as to opposed taking out Willian for mikel.

And as you mentioned he then did defensive tactics and that almost cost him.

This is why I'm not too keen on this.

Sometimes it works like it happen with city in this game and sometimes it doesn't work like it happen against us.

Like I said the best thing is to get subs that will help us regain the ball and have possession then going into a low block and give them all the possession.

The best example was Barcelona vs United in cl final. They was winning 3 to 1 and still kept possession so as to not allowed them to get back into the game.

If we sit back and have no possession or press we invite them to have more clear cut chances.

Or Barcelona vs Inter when Bacelona had 80% (or something like that of ball possession) and created 1 or 2 chances in all the game with one more player for more than 1 hour.

Pellegrini changed because Man United with less one player was having more chances than City. A normal thing since any team that is losing a game with the difference of 1 goal will try everything to score.

This happens in every league, with any team. And more normally between 2 great teams like Chelsea, Man United (or City).

How many teams have you seen playing like Barcelona in the last 15 years? You have there the reason why no one else to that with a 1 goal lead. And many times it's not because you don't want, it's just because you can't.