JOSE: I’M OUR ONLY LEADER
Boss ready for life after legends
FOR years, the mental strength of Chelsea players has been admired as one of the forces behind their prolific success but Jose Mourinho insists there is only one leader in the Stamford Bridge dressing room — and that’s him.
‘Chelsea leadership is my leadership, for good and bad,’ he said. ‘It is not the players’ leadership, not even on the pitch.’
Captain John Terry might take issue with this, but Mourinho was trying to prove how his team’s spirit might survive the loss of two more legendary players.
Petr Cech will depart in search of regular football and Didier Drogba could follow, a year after Chelsea bid farewell to Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, leaving Terry as the sole survivor from the last time Mourinho’s team were champions, in 2005-06.
‘For the older guys, it’s also nice to belong to two different generations,’ said the Chelsea manager. ‘If we are champions this season, Petr, Drogba and John, and also John Mikel Obi will belong to two generations. The same as me.’
Mikel arrived in the summer of 2006 and was a champion under Carlo Ancelotti in 2010. His future at the club is also uncertain — he has not started since the FA Cup defeat by Bradford in January.
As the team evolves and the legends leave, Mourinho will expect others to replace them. ‘Branislav Ivanovic is experienced,’ he said. ‘Cesar Azpilicueta and Nemanja Matic get experience. Eden Hazard is here for three years.’
Drogba has featured in one more Premier League match than Diego Costa this season and has said he wants to play on, but it is hard to imagine the 37-yearold can continue at an elite level. ‘The decision belongs to him,’ said Mourinho. ‘When they reach this age, it is not just about the body, it’s about the brain, the heart, family, future projects.’
Drogba has made one emotional exit already, in 2012 after the Champions League triumph, only to return last summer at Mourinho’s behest. Owner Roman Abramovich has made it clear there will always be a role for him if he wants to stay in a non-playing capacity.
‘He belongs to the history of this club,’ Mourinho added. ‘At the end of last year, Chelsea lost what I consider for sure one of the five most important players in the history of the club: Frank Lampard. We lost him, but life goes on.’
Terry remains firmly in place, revived by Mourinho’s return and getting better at the age of 34. After Sunday’s goalless draw at Arsenal,
Sportsmail’s Jamie Carragher hailed him the best centre half of the Premier League era, and he has signed a new one-year contract.
‘I don’t like to compare generations,’ said Mourinho. ‘But from this generation, I think he is the best. I don’t know how long he can play for. Every player is different.
‘For two seasons previous to my arrival, he wasn’t an important player for Chelsea managers any more. You were anticipating his departure.’
A victory at in-form Leicester tonight and Chelsea have the chance to become champions at home against Crystal Palace on Sunday. But Mourinho warned fans against expecting this young team to dominate English football. ‘Arsenal have a phenomenal squad,’ he said. ‘Thierry Henry said they need four top-class players. Give to Arsenal four topclass players and they will again be the Invincibles.
‘Man United have the most expensive player in the history of the Premier League (Angel di Maria), who is not playing. So you see the quality of the squad.
‘They are a club where Financial Fair Play doesn’t make a big difference.
‘ Manchester City have done phenomenally, winning two titles in three years.
‘Liverpool, fighting for the title for many years. It is very difficult for a team to be dominant. This is not Germany with Bayern. This is not Scotland with Celtic.’