The Mourinho Thread

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I don't like our midfield with him, I feel that to play Cesc behind the striker and give us more in the final third we have to play Mikel. It doesn't mean it wasn't effective. I was complaining about it through and through though. I hate that we lose to much in the pivot, in the transition, in the way we dominate midfield to have Cesc behind the striker.

we need someone better to replace Cesc in the pivot. I'm positive Mourinho moved Cesc ahead for a combination of two things: the game was too physical for Oscar to play at all and too physical to have Cesc in the pivot. The change isn't only about Oscar. If Oscar handled those games better, Cesc would still play #10 and Willian would be dropped. So imo Cesc was moved higher also because it would have been suicidal to play him in the pivot away at Stoke

But the idea of Mikel still makes me frustrated. Hopefully when Ramires finally recovers (maybe he also had mono, who knows) he'll get a chance there too because I'd rather have Ramires and Matic than Matic and Mikel. But who knows if that'll work.

Actually Jose moved Cesc forward because he wanted to start Mikel in the pivot, not the other way around (which means I was completely wrong when I said that Jose should play Oscar at 10 when Cesc is out of the pivot). He said so himself after the game and hinted at it before. He said we want to match Stoke's physicality in midfield and we wanted to play with two holding midfielders to leave no space for Bojan to operate in and to "cage" Crouch so that even if we don't win first balls, we are sure to win second balls.

Analyzing the match tactically a bit, I think Mikel played an important role yesterday. He had very good defensive numbers yesterday, though obviously incomparable to Matic's who was simply world class. But more importantly, I think the role he played allowed Matic the freedom to put on the incredible display we say yesterday. That is because Mikel's discipline means that Nemanja can cover a much larger area with his pressing and tackling. He could cover for fullbacks and press higher without having to worry about leaving the center and back four exposed, especially on transitions.

The two together in the middle of the park also allows us to physically dominate the opposition in the middle of the park which was obvious by the fact that Cameron's and Nzzonzi's were practically invisible in the match. It also cuts down the amount of work the back four have to do since both are so excellent defensively and almost completely annihilates the possibility of an opposition player running at our CBs which has been a major issue this season.

The down side is that we lose a creative player in the team as well as a goal threat and just a body in the final third. So obviously not something for every game, but I thought it was certainly a promising experiment and I expect it to make a few more appearances before the end of the season.

[Tomo 21,751]

Luis, Schurrle and Cech amoungst other's must not be happy with their lack of play time this season yet despite that their doesn't seem to be a murmur of discontent between any one.

Goes to show just how good Mourinhos man management is, not many managers could leave out such high profile player's constantly without noises of discontent.

[the wes 7,212]

[LDN Blue 7,903]

So Mourinho's asking bench players to be patient and make sacrifices for the good of the team. Is there truth to that statement? Yes. Do players have a right to be mad when they think they've made the effort to be given a chance even when others are struggling? I would also say yes. It's a real 50/50 situation.

Funniest thing is, we have one of the smaller sides in the pl. It's simply because we've remained injury free that those fringe players dont get more chances.. The only way they get time is via suspensions

[robsblubot 3,595]

Had we not won yesterday, people would be blaming Mourinho for playing Mikel in midfield..

Likewise, same folks who said Mikel was not culpable for the loss against Newcastle are now saying Mikel played a pivotal role in the win yesterday....

[The Chels 2,502]

Luis, Schurrle and Cech amoungst other's must not be happy with their lack of play time this season yet despite that their doesn't seem to be a murmur of discontent between any one.

Goes to show just how good Mourinhos man management is, not many managers could leave out such high profile player's constantly without noises of discontent.

I think whether there are noises of discontent or not depends more on the players than Jose's man-management skills. The 3 you mentioned seem to be very hard-working and professional whereas someone like Casillas obviously couldn't handle being dropped.

[Tomo 21,751]

I think whether there are noises of discontent or not depends more on the players than Jose's man-management skills. The 3 you mentioned seem to be very hard-working and professional whereas someone like Casillas obviously couldn't handle being dropped.

We all thought Lamps would have never pulled off the stuff he did under AVB, and Cech has previous under Scolari.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Nice interview with Jose at BT Sports. Lol, at Balotelli story.

[stroey 2,525]

Nice interview with Jose at BT Sports. Lol, at Balotelli story.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/jose-mourinho-qa-full-transcript-4869757

Great read indeed

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/jose-mourinho-qa-full-transcript-4869757

Great read indeed

We will never find any manager like Jose ever again, imo.

So happy and proud someday in the future, we could say, 'I am living and support Chelsea with Mourinho as a manager at that time' and the other person will replied 'How lucky you are!'

[supporter 3,088]

Mourinho's commands, we followed him.

[Elran 58]

The interview with BT sports (not the best quality..)

[illmatic 901]

"I love my Chelsea players".

Jose Mourinho has said he "loves" his Chelsea players again because of their incredible performances this season, insisting that even when they are not at their best, they are still good.

The Blues preserved their lead at the top of the Premier League with a dominant 2-0 win over high-flying West Ham on Boxing Day, with captain John Terry and Diego Costa getting the goals.

And while Mourinho rejects the notion that his team already have one hand on a first league title in four years, he was full of praise for the consistency, quality and attitude of his players.

"Football is football," he told reporters after the West Ham win. "You never know. The only thing we can do to try and reduce the unpredictability of football is to do what we’re doing - playing very, very well.

"The reality is, since the Burnley match, the team is playing sometimes better, sometimes not so good, but always good, solid performances.

"The results are good, the performances are quality, the players are happy, I’m happy as a coach because my team is playing well, I’m happy as a guy because I love my players.

"That’s something I missed for a while and with this group I have that.".

----

The players are happy, you are happy, and the fans are happy.

[supporter 3,088]

Yes, Jose is sending a message with his words to Real Madrid. I fully understand the sentiment that must be feeling Jose. I live in Madrid and I admire very much Jose Mourinho for many years, and I feel very ashamed by the behavior of Madrid residents and the Spanish people.

Since coming Jose to Madrid worldwide began a chase against Jose Mourinho as I have never seen attacking anyone. Jose was born in Portugal and in Spain people do not support a portugues be successful and both people, journalists, people of Real Madrid and people working in football not only did not respect Jose, if not that gave Jose despicable treatment.

For me personally I am ashamed as my country, my culture by the treatment they gave Jose. I can imagine that for Jose his last year in Madrid was like being in hell. He was insulted in own Santiago Bernabeu, in away games people wished his death and even journalists published in many times in wich his son was training in a team in Madrid (El Canillas Club) and many fans, not only hooligans, they went to the training of Jose´s son and they insulted and threatened him.

Besides the last year in Real Madrid only because Jose puto on the pitch the players who was training and playing better and most Real Madrid players withdrew the word by great panic that had to deal with Iker Casillas and other Spanish players. What they did to Jose was a real betrayal.

I am very proud of the treatment given to Jose in England. In Spain we have many things to learn English culture.

I fully understand that Jose now feel very happy.

Mourinho's commands, we followed him.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

"I love my Chelsea players".

Jose Mourinho has said he "loves" his Chelsea players again because of their incredible performances this season, insisting that even when they are not at their best, they are still good.

The Blues preserved their lead at the top of the Premier League with a dominant 2-0 win over high-flying West Ham on Boxing Day, with captain John Terry and Diego Costa getting the goals.

And while Mourinho rejects the notion that his team already have one hand on a first league title in four years, he was full of praise for the consistency, quality and attitude of his players.

"Football is football," he told reporters after the West Ham win. "You never know. The only thing we can do to try and reduce the unpredictability of football is to do what were doing - playing very, very well.

"The reality is, since the Burnley match, the team is playing sometimes better, sometimes not so good, but always good, solid performances.

"The results are good, the performances are quality, the players are happy, Im happy as a coach because my team is playing well, Im happy as a guy because I love my players.

"Thats something I missed for a while and with this group I have that.".

----

The players are happy, you are happy, and the fans are happy.

There is a lot of love in here

[generaldane 64]

I want us to meet Madrid in Champion's League and crush them

[ZOS 580]

Is this the sexiest team Jose has ever put together? My god, Chelsea is playing some beautiful stuff. I'm so glad

[iseah100 5,612]

The fans love Mou, as do the players. These guys would kill for him

[stroey 2,525]

http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2014/12/mourinho--happy-to-face-hard-test.html

[OhForAGreavsie 6,078]

there should be a little bit more praise because the pragmatic and conservative manager has got us at the top of the league for 17 matchweeks now... out of 17.

Yes there should. Even if 17 out of 17 was not quite true