In debt to Mourinho

[Aesthetic Relic 301]

SSN

In debt to Mourinho

Scolari doing well, but will Abramovich take money and run?

With Chelsea riding high at the top of the Premier League, new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has won plenty of plaudits for the start he has made to life in English football.

Saturday's 5-0 demolition of Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium showcased Chelsea's ability to attack with flair and style, something which was often not associated with the club during the reign of Jose Mourinho.

The Portugese coach was often criticised for playing a much more structured, organised and defensive-minded style of football during his successful three-year spell at Stamford Bridge.

It is thought that style of football ultimately cost him his job as owner Roman Abramovich wanted to see more entertaining football, but Ian Ridley feels Scolari would not be enjoying his current success were it not for the impact Mourinho had at the club.

Speaking on the Sunday Supplement, the Daily Mail writer applauded Scolari's brand of football but felt it would not have been possible without the winning mentality that Mourinho introduced at Stamford Bridge.

"Chelsea are frighteningly strong at the moment," Ridley said.

"Scolari's liberated them, but I'm not one of those that was down on Mourinho because I think Chelsea played some lovely football at times under him.

"What Chelsea owe Mourinho more than anything is that he changed the culture of the football club from being nearly-men, from being a London club that was a bit 'Fancy Dan-ish' into winners.

"If you go back a few years then without Neil Kinnock you wouldn't have had Tony Blair in the end in the Labour Party. Without Mourinho you wouldn't have Scolari to guild the lily.

"I'm still a big Mourinho fan, but you have to be fair and yes, they are playing nice attacking vibrant football.

"It will be interesting to see next Sunday, a fantastic game in Chelsea v Liverpool, whether they play the same kind of football against them."

The Supplement panel agreed the future looks bright for Chelsea supporters under Scolari but pointed out that current golbal economic problems could mean there are dark clouds on the horizon.

Abramovich has been hit in the pocket by by the credit crunch and there are fears that he may need to pull his money out of Chelsea - which would leave the club lumbered with vast amounts of debt.

Ridley said there is a real possibility that Abramovich could demand back some of the money he has put into the club, but says in the short term at least, he is still wealthy enough to bankroll the club's pursuit of success.

He said: "He's owed a lot of money, that's the thing. For two or three years at least at Chelsea they were saying they were fine, they had a business plan, they were going to break even by 2010 and will convert it into equity and all that.

"It's accepted, and Chelsea pretty much put it out, that this is soft debt: 'We do owe the money to him but he's not going to call it in so don't worry'.

"I wouldn't be so certain about that and I wouldn't be so confident about that.

"It's one of the curses of the game in many ways, the volume of debt. It is people within clubs that have built them up and then want their money back when they go.

"There is no sign, you have to be fair to Abramovich and say it depends on the markets. He's taken a hit, but it's still left him with a lot."

[terry26 6]

i do agree with that

we owe credit to Jose for the mentality of the players as he made them more competitive and hungry for success

[Kez 2,727]

Yep i think thats the one thing that stood out overall he turned them into winners

[pablo814 1]

Jose deserves some credit, but Scolari is doing a great job. A 5-0 thrashing with most of our starters injured is a preety big accomplishment.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Scolari deserves his own credit, but one can't argue that Mourinho did not build the foundations - its moreorless still the same squad, and because of that, they still have the defensive mindset and qualities they established under him. Nevertheless, Scolari has done a great job by expanding that mindset to allow the team to play more flowing, expansive football. I think ultimately Felipe has made a brilliant start, but he has no doubt been helped by the squad presented to him - but, with that being said, if any top manager went to Manchester United and inherited that squad, they would possibly have made a similar impression and start that Scolari has.

[Aesthetic Relic 301]

I think Ranieri should also receive some credit for putting such a good team together before Jose even arrived on the scene. We played some nice football under Ranieri and Jose made them toughen up.....

LFS has combined both and were certainly reeping the rewards.

[warnie_666 1,081]

I think Ranieri should also receive some credit for putting such a good team together before Jose even arrived on the scene. We played some nice football under Ranieri and Jose made them toughen up.....

LFS has combined both and were certainly reeping the rewards.

It was he who asorted all the players on whome we are relying today. Lampard, Joe Cole, Cech to name a few.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

That's a very fair comment, Cech, Terry, Lampard and Joe Cole were all brought by or nurtured by Ranieri, he laid down the foundations for Mourinho's success like Mourinho has done for Scolari.