Man U blues over Chelsea holiday
JOSE Mourinho has taken the unusual step of allowing his Chelsea players up to four days off this week, prompting raised eyebrows at Manchester United over the new Premier League champions’ preparations for Liverpool today.
After clinching the title at home with their 1-0 win against Crystal Palace last Sunday, the Portuguese gave his players Monday and Tuesday as what would be their expected days off, but also rewarded them with the option of taking both Wednesday and Thursday off.
Friday was the first day that the squad has been required to report for training, leaving Mourinho only two definite full days to prepare with his players for the visit today of Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool.
Today’s fixture is hugely important in what now looks like a straight battle between the Reds and Red Devils for the fourth and final Champions League spot.
Qualifying for next season’s Champions League is typically worth about £30-million and will also be crucial in attracting signings over the next year.
Liverpool have closed the gap on archrivals United to only four points ahead of the final three matches of the season, following a sequence of three straight defeats for Dutchman Louis van Gaal’s team.
Chelsea have been dominant against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge under Mourinho but, with the title already secured, Old Trafford fans will be concerned that his team might not be as meticulously prepared as usual.
The performance and team selection will certainly come under added scrutiny.
Mourinho is sure to completely refute any suggestion that he would allow his players, even subconsciously, not to be fully motivated and prepared for any game.
He simply believed that the players had deserved the chance of some extra time off after a pressurised season that has ended with a first Premier League title in five years as well as the Capital One Cup.
Mourinho is expected also to argue that, by giving the players a brief space to celebrate and unwind, his decision will actually help ensure that they are fully focused for the final three games.
Mourinho himself has been back working at the club’s Cobham training base since Wednesday in preparation for the Liverpool game. Chelsea also still have to play West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland.
A year ago the two teams were vying for the title and despite Chelsea puncturing Liverpool’s late-season momentum with a 2-0 win at An- field, it was Rodgers’s side who finished higher in the table.
Now it is Chelsea who are champions, after last weekend’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, with Liverpool a huge 22 points behind them and in the unfortunate position of having to give their rivals a guard of honour.
“We’re going into the game at the weekend looking to win,” said the Liverpool manager.
“Chelsea are obviously deserved champions. They’ve been the best team, but all we can do is control the last three games, look to win those and see where we end up. I’m purely focused on the game.
“I congratulated (Mourinho). They’re the deserving champions and to win it with a few games to go is obviously pleasing for him.
“But it doesn’t take away from what we’re looking to do and we want to finish the season strong.” Rodgers will take encouragement from his side’s performance on their last visit to Stamford Bridge, when Chelsea needed an extra-time header from Branislav Ivanovic to secure victory in the League Cup semifinals.
Mourinho may also elect to rotate his squad, but he has set his players the target of finishing the campaign on 92 points by winning their last three games.
“We want to win our matches,” said Mourinho, whose side are unbeaten in their last seven encounters with Liverpool.
“We have three difficult games. We don’t need to win, but we want to try to win points.” — ©
Mourinho has only two full days to prepare for the visit of Liverpool