The Mourinho Thread

[ZOS 580]

no wonder we were playing better when Ramirez wasn't available. Too bad Jose doesn't see that.

[Barbara 15,149]

no wonder we were playing better when Ramirez wasn't available. Too bad Jose doesn't see that.

now that Ramires is recovered there won't EVER be one single big match where he won't play.

When he's given more freedom in the attack and he's in good form, he's quite useful, but to play the role demands from him and ALL AMs in those matches? Yes, it's frustrating.

[Stats 7,156]

To all people who talking shit about Mourinho: How Bayern played yesterday with the best attacking coach in the world? Did they create a lot? How many shots on target? Shakhtar must have been blown away by best team with the best coach...

I don't understand why people keep comparing us with Bayern. Bayern done their usual thing with passing but Shakhtar were effective in restricting them to shots on target. Bayern didn't sit back and defend. They were passing and looking for a way through but could not. They had 8 shots compared to Shakhtar's one. They just could not get much on target. We on the other had only had 2 shots that game. Bayern had a man sent off with 25 minutes to go as well? Do you really expect them to go all gung-ho away from home after that. There is a complete difference. Anyway I am sure Bayern will demolish Shakhtar second leg anyway but it is nonsense to try and compare our performance to Bayern's. Shakhtar were good at restricting Bayern. Shakhtar did not create and only had 1 shot that game. Bayern did not sit back. Their game plan was just not effective. We on the other hand were outplayed and were poor going forward and in defense. Our goalkeeper saved us from a beating last night.

Complete difference. We could have done much better offensively yesterday night.

[Madmax 9,219]

I don't understand why people keep comparing us with Bayern. Bayern done their usual thing with passing but Shakhtar were effective in restricting them to shots on target. Bayern didn't sit back and defend. They were passing and looking for a way through but could not. They had 8 shots compared to Shakhtar's one. They just could not get much on target. We on the other had only had 2 shots that game. Bayern had a man sent off with 25 minutes to go as well? Do you really expect them to go all gung-ho away from home after that. There is a complete difference. Anyway I am sure Bayern will demolish Shakhtar second leg anyway but it is nonsense to try and compare our performance to Bayern's. Shakhtar were good at restricting Bayern. Shakhtar did not create and only had 1 shot that game. Bayern did not sit back. Their game plan was just not effective. We on the other hand were outplayed and were poor going forward and in defense. Our goalkeeper saved us from a beating last night.

Complete difference. We could have done much better offensively yesterday night.

Good to know I'm not the only one cursing at this thread since yesterday every time the post about Bayern's result comes up.

[supporter 3,088]

After winning the Europa League two years ago I think the club has created a certain atmosphere of tension and anxiety. Our project is to create a worldwide reference winning club for the next 20 years, and winning a minor trophy as the Europa League represented a step back compared to our history since Roman arrived.

Right now we have a horrible anxiety to win trophies as quickly as possible.

Anxiety is always bad in football. Before we competed with great ambition, but now compete with much anxiety. This has changed our mentality. For us awful would spend two years without winning trophies at the end of the season and I think the players and Jose share that anxiety.

Maybe this season we will not present a spectacular football for the anxiety. Maybe this season we have to make do with winning trophies using pragmatic approaches. Maybe this year, if we win Premier League, League Cup and, perhaps, Champions League, maybe we desatasquemos this feeling of stress and anxiety, and thus the next season we will play much more comfortable without any stress or anxiety.

We won with Di Matteo in 2012 Champions League by putting a huge bus in our box. But after the goal by Didier us were all jumping for joy. Now nobody remembers that we won Champions League, but across Europe already know that we are already champions Champions League and we have that pressure and that anxiety about getting a big trophy.

At the Champions was not important the way, was only important the end. Champions League race is a long way down the road and we were the only ones happy.

The story also plays in football. And it's not the same not have Champions League than if you've already won one or more Champions League. For example, Real Madrid win many games in Europe only by the fear that gives its history. But Real Madrid won six Champions League when television was in black and white.

That is why I advocate the approach of Jose. We have to win the Champions League in any way. Jose delete the big Guardiola's Barcelona with a bus in the second game in the semifinals. But let's not forget, Jose crushed to Barcelona in the first game of that semifinal. The Jose's Inter crush the Guardiola's Barcelona. So I am quite sure that when Jose need to win big games, Jose will show again that he is a specialist in big games.

We have drawn against City, United, Liverpool, PSG ... but in those games we we were not bound to win. Against Liverpool, home, us were forced to win and finally we won.

Jose approaches are perfect from a pragmatic point of view. Yesterday would have been imprudent take risks.

Obviously we can fall out of any competition, but that risk also have it the other teams.

But Jose knows how to handle pressure situations perfectly. Jose knows change radically its approach on the pitch with a couple of indications to his players.

For me there is no one better than Jose in the world. He is perfect for such situations. I believe that if, for many people, Guardiola (cheap philosopher) is the best coach in history, and Guardiola's Barcelona the best team ever since Jose Mourinho who was crushed to Guardiola's Barcelona. First I won the Champions League with Inter, after he defeated Real Madrid in La Liga, the Spanish Cup, Spanish Super Cup and totally demoralized Guardiola. Moreover, Jose showed the world how to win Guardiola.

So all quiet. Jose is very intelligent, and he will present different approaches according to our needs, and when we need to win, we will win. I'm sure. I fully trust in Jose.

I hope your comments.

Regards to ALL.

[lucio 5,418]

Who are they??? I didn't hear Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern singing this to be fair. Others, such as United, Arsenal, Liverpool are irrelevant.

United have invested almost 200m and they're playing worse than Chelsea U18s.

And then comes the usual suspects, the moral winners of every competition, Arsenal and Liverpool, the deluded teams with clueless managers/tactics that play fancy football and never win a thing.

What about Liverpool last season?? What about their all out attack tactics?? The stick Mourinho would get for blowing that lead... man, this whole forum would go into complete meltdown.

What you want is a team to entertain you the way Liverpool did last season and defend the "Jose way". That's basically the perfect football team and I'm afraid it does not exist.

And no, it is not called a balanced team. You can't score over 100 goals and allow only 20 with a balanced team. Not even Celtic could do it in SPL, nevermind EPL.

You guys talk about opposition fans, but half of United's fanbase would donate their left bollock to have Jose at Old Trafford.

This thread is quieter than a desert after a Chelsea win, but a mess after every other result. Even after a draw with an away goal that puts you in the driving seat, all you do is moan, moan, moan and fucking moan.

fine , but trying to sneak a set piece and then defend baldly when called upon , isn't really good enough. How about defending tightly but managing more than about 4 attacks?

[stroey 2,525]

Madridistas slating Mourinho as the ''semifinal one'' is such a disgrace, before Mourinho went to Real they were a complete joke in Europe.
They didn't qualify for the quarter finals for 7 years, eliminated by the likes of Lyon. After he came they reached it 3 years in a row.

- First year against a super Barca was difficult, I also remember the easy red cards given to Real.
- Bayern wasn't better at all, Real should have reached the final. Lost with penalties, but if Real was there, I am not sure we'd have won the CL , so better for us.
- Dortmund, it was his final year and at the time around April the atmosphere was already really bad, plus Pepe had his worst game in years.

With us in his first spell he had some bad luck too:

- 2005: Ghost goal of Garcia.
- 2007: Penalties again, lost against Liverpool.

So instead of slating him as the ''semifinal one'', people could also call him the specialist in the competition. He's been in the last 4 of this competition 8/10 seasons as a CL team manager, that's 80%. How many coaches have this percentage? He's won it twice too, papers like Dailymail should shut up about him and we as Chelsea fans should be proud to have this CL specialist.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Why do I feel, after reading the past few pages, that I need to express my condolences to everybody?!

[Heisenberg 1,824]

I don't understand why people keep comparing us with Bayern. Bayern done their usual thing with passing but Shakhtar were effective in restricting them to shots on target. Bayern didn't sit back and defend. They were passing and looking for a way through but could not. They had 8 shots compared to Shakhtar's one. They just could not get much on target. We on the other had only had 2 shots that game. Bayern had a man sent off with 25 minutes to go as well? Do you really expect them to go all gung-ho away from home after that. There is a complete difference. Anyway I am sure Bayern will demolish Shakhtar second leg anyway but it is nonsense to try and compare our performance to Bayern's. Shakhtar were good at restricting Bayern. Shakhtar did not create and only had 1 shot that game. Bayern did not sit back. Their game plan was just not effective. We on the other hand were outplayed and were poor going forward and in defense. Our goalkeeper saved us from a beating last night.

Complete difference. We could have done much better offensively yesterday night.

I agree, and credit should be given to Guardiola for that, he edges José when it comes to that I guess, we were so poor yesterday, shockingly poor for a team that leads by 7 points the PL, we'll qualify though.

[ZOS 580]

I think people exaggerate the level of control a manager has over match proceedings... I don't think it was Jose's intention to defend against PSG ... in fact I don't believe he ever sets teams up just to defend. He just puts out a team he believes can cope with a range of situations that could possibly unfold during a match... and some times, like Yesternight, he makes the mistake of trusting the wrong player/s to handle these situations. And when these players screw up the whole plan goes down the toilet and we end up looking like shit.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Why do I feel, after reading the past few pages, that I need to express my condolences to everybody?!

You're too soft

[Sheva. 5,373]

I think people exaggerate the level of control a manager has over match proceedings... I don't think it was Jose's intention to defend against PSG ... in fact I don't believe he ever sets teams up just to defend. He just puts out a team he believes can cope with a range of situations that could possibly unfold during a match... and some times, like Yesternight, he makes the mistake of trusting the wrong player/s to handle these situations. And when these players screw up the whole plan goes down the toilet and we end up looking like shit.

I also think it's a problem with the selection, but he picks these same players every time.

[Rom2013 446]

You want to win something with a team that was an absolute disgrace 2 years ago, with a net spending almost 0M£, with one of the worst stadiums and atmospheres between the big clubs, with the third more expensive team in the country in terms of fees paid, and I think also in terms of salaries, with a club that has to sell players every year to pass the FFP... and not only that but also dominating big teams like PSG that their team cost almost 360M£ (more 40M£ than CHelsea)... keep dreaming.

Barcelona lost there this season, like almost every other team that played in there.

You want to dominate a team like Manchester United in Old Trafford...talking about Manchester like they are a piece of shit but in reality they are a 400M£ team.

You also want kids... a lot of kids...

You want everything.

But in reality we are in the final of a cup, we are in the 1st place in the League with less resources than others and we are in a good position to win against PSG.

[obiwan92 217]

Yeah, I'm surprised people are so shocked by the result. The GREAT Barcelona with some of the best attacking talent on the planet just lost there. It's not easy to play there. No team has won at PP for years!

[ZOS 580]

I also think it's a problem with the selection, but he picks these same players every time.

That depends on who you think screwed up last night. imo, Ivanovic, Ramirez and Cahill were all the culprits. Despite his goal, Bane was bad at his primary job, which is defending for the team. I know many here strongly disagree with me but I believe he's the weakest link in our back four. I think he could use some series scolding from Jose over his complacency... no need to discuss Rambo and Garry. They were just bad, very bad.

Garry is no more a certain starter for team... but, I agree, Jose will have to do something about Ivanovic and Ramirez

[iseah100 5,612]

You want to win something with a team that was an absolute disgrace 2 years ago, with a net spending almost 0M£, with one of the worst stadiums and atmospheres between the big clubs, with the third more expensive team in the country in terms of fees paid, and I think also in terms of salaries, with a club that has to sell players every year to pass the FFP... and not only that but also dominating big teams like PSG that their team cost almost 360M£ (more 40M£ than CHelsea)... keep dreaming.

Barcelona lost there this season, like almost every other team that played in there.

You want to dominate a team like Manchester United in Old Trafford...talking about Manchester like they are a piece of shit but in reality they are a 400M£ team.

You also want kids... a lot of kids...

You want everything.

But in reality we are in the final of a cup, we are in the 1st place in the League with less resources than others and we are in a good position to win against PSG.

THIS! PSG were undefeated at home this year. UNDEFEATED. We stole a goal and result at Parc de Princes and are in a great position to advance. People need to chill, Jose has always approached away knockout games in a conservative way and you know what it has gotten him? Countless trophies including 2 trebles and 2 CL. I think we should trust Jose and not questiom his tactics in every single game.

[obiwan92 217]

That depends on who you think screwed up last night. imo, Ivanovic, Ramirez and Cahill were all the culprits. Despite his goal, Bane was bad at his primary job, which is defending for the team. I know many here strongly disagree with me but I believe he's the weakest link in our back four. I think he could use some series scolding from Jose over his complacency... no need to discuss Rambo and Garry. They were just bad, very bad.

Garry is no more a certain starter for team... but, I agree, Jose will have to do something about Ivanovic and Ramirez

Yes, that flank is an issue, even when I play FIFA...

[The Chels 2,502]

I think people exaggerate the level of control a manager has over match proceedings... I don't think it was Jose's intention to defend against PSG ... in fact I don't believe he ever sets teams up just to defend. He just puts out a team he believes can cope with a range of situations that could possibly unfold during a match... and some times, like Yesternight, he makes the mistake of trusting the wrong player/s to handle these situations. And when these players screw up the whole plan goes down the toilet and we end up looking like shit.

Hmm the manager has a lot more control than you make out. If Jose wants us to dominate possession against the likes of PSG away then we would clearly see that. If he wants us to press high and create chances by turnovers then we would see that too. It is obvious though that what he wants in the big away games is for us to concede possession, be defensively solid and (usually) play on the counter attack at least until we score. I think those are mostly the right intentions but the tactical execution has been consistently awful with the same mistakes repeated over and over.

[Tomo 21,751]

People underestimate the mess we were in as a squad when Jose took over, we had no top class CMs, Terry who at the time looked he was on the way down, a fully declined Ash, Fernando fucking Torres as our "main" forward. Our only positions of strength really was in goal with Cech and attacking midfield and even in those areas we had piss poor back ups, we were every bit an unbalanced shambles as United are now. Jose has turned this around on a next to nothing net spend, and while we aren't "there" yet in terms of being on the very top tier, we have a healthy and well balanced squad and it's only looking up.

Last season we were ace in the big games but phrone to dropping points against lesser sides, this season it's the other way round, the league title is a clear priority this season and if we have to flat track bully our way there then so be it.

We will go "toe to toe" with big boys away when the team is more equipped (more proactive CBs and maybe another top class CM). We are in the process of building a top class team, enjoy it.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

It is obvious though that what he wants in the big away games is for us to concede possession, be defensively solid and (usually) play on the counter attack at least until we score. I think those are mostly the right intentions but the tactical execution has been consistently awful with the same mistakes repeated over and over.

This is what he's failed to do. The counter-attacking is clearly not working anymore. Any match where we have less than 6 shots at our current level is unacceptable imo, it means the tactics is wrong