JOSE BLASTS PLAYERS FOR LACK OF CARE
A BUNCH OF HAPPY CHELSEA STARS AND ONE VERY GRUMPY
Jose Mourinho has questioned the passion, drive and devotion of some Chelsea players as he clings to his job.
Crisis talks are ongoing between roman Abramovich, his closest aides and key executives at stamford Bridge about how they might rescue this disastrous season.
Mourinho’s future has been part of the discussion: whether they want to sack him, or can afford to terminate his contract, and what alternatives might be available, in the long and short term.
Discussions about Chelsea’s approach to the January transfer window have also been unfolding, with the manager unhappy with the attitude of some players since they won the title in May.
‘some of them need to rethink the way they live Chelsea, the way they live football, they live their job,’ said Mourinho.
‘Chelsea is big, football is more than a job, it’s a passion. every match on the pitch you should live with an unbelievable passion.
‘how many millions would love to be football players and they can’t be? You shouldn’t waste any minutes on the pitch, you should enjoy every minute and you should give absolutely everything.
‘Yes, i feel frustrated with some players and i feel that some others give absolutely everything and don’t deserve to lose.’
These comments, made to Chelsea TV in the immediate aftermath of Monday’s defeat at Leicester, will strike a chord with fans, where Mourinho’s stock is still high.
inside the dressing room, they will not be quite so well received by players who are tiring of the manager and what they think has become a barrage of criticism.
he pulled no punches live on sky sports after the 2-1 loss to Leicester when he accused his team of ‘betraying’ his meticulous tactical planning. he felt let down.
After giving his players the day off on Tuesday, Mourinho took a routine training session at Cobham yesterday in preparation for saturday’s home game against sunderland, making no reference to his uncertain position or those scathing post-match remarks. Abramovich has remained staunchly behind his manager despite awful results this season.
Their personal relationship is said to be good, although others on the board are less supportive of Mourinho and are weary of his outspoken style.
The position was unchanged last night, with the ongoing talks described by one club insider as a ‘holistic’ approach to the task of salvaging the worst season since Abramovich took over in 2003.
Chelsea have never been in such a lowly position under his ownership. They are 16th in the Barclays Premier League after 16 games and Mourinho has abandoned hope of finishing in the top four. of the four teams below the champions, three have already changed their manager. Abramovich has been determined to change the perception of stamford Bridge as a wrecking ground for managerial reputations, a feeling that will be reinforced as he casts around for alternatives.
Pep Guardiola could be on the move from Bayern Munich to Manchester City and Carlo Ance- lotti is the favourite to replace him at the Allianz Arena. Guardiola has long been coveted by Abramovich but would expect to work in a more settled and mature environment, while Ancelotti still carries scars from his sacking at Chelsea in 2011, only a year after winning the Double.
Abramovich has dismissed eight managers in 12 years despite relentless success and the idea behind bringing Mourinho back was to give a top quality manager the time to establish a dynasty.
The events of this season are testing this theory to its limits. one major factor on Mourinho’s side is the absence of obvious replace- ments on the market. Another is the lack of a safe and experienced caretaker boss inside the club.
The only Chelsea manager under Abramovich to avoid the chop has emerged as one of the short-term alternatives if Mourinho is dismissed. Guus hiddink has been out of work since he was fired as holland manager during their failed euro 2016 qualification campaign.
hiddink, 69, revived Chelsea after Luiz Felipe scolari was sacked in 2009. he won the FA Cup and reached the last four of the Champions League before returning to his full-time duties at the time as manager of russia. other names linked with the job include Fabio Capello, Avram Grant and Brendan rodgers.
But Abramovich would prefer not to go down the route of another interim appointment after his experience with rafa Benitez.
Chelsea supporters protested openly when the former Liverpool manager replaced roberto Di Matteo in 2012, and Benitez claimed his authority had been undermined by an ‘interim’ job title.
Anyone brought in to replace Mourinho would have to satisfy the supporters. They were singing the manager’s name during last week’s Champions League win against Porto, when the team performed well, and many are still on his side, even if his backing is nott as overwhelming as it was in n 2007, when his first spell came to o an abrupt end.
eight years on and fans are confident Abramovich has the interests of the club at heart. if he is to pursue a long-term manager, someone like italy boss Antonio Conte or Diego simeone of Atletico Madrid, it will take more time, which could mean more time for Mourinho.
eden hazard remains a doubt for the sunderland game after coming off with a hip injury against Leicester.
“Some of them need to rethink the way they live football”