Sorry Jose, but bosses who have done it as top players get more respect
THE GREAL DEAL?
EDEN HAZARD was full of praise for Chelsea chief Antonio Conte last week, and the fact his career as a top-quality player means he really understands what makes his boys tick.
The Belgium star’s words were widely interpreted as a swipe at his old Blues boss Jose Mourinho and, perhaps, that is just what he intended.
Yes, Mourinho did play professional football, but not at the level of Conte, who won five Serie A titles with Juventus and 20 caps for Italy.
And it does make a massive difference to players when their managers have achieved the sort of success they aspire to.
Jose’s lack of success as a player hasn’t held him back as a manager. But when players are brought up on 24/7 football today, it can make a difference to them to be playing for one of their heroes.
Carlo Ancelotti is probably the classic example of a man who did it on the pitch and then in the dugout. That is why he has had the jobs he has had at some of the biggest clubs in the world.
Owners can employ him knowing he has walked in the hallowed halls, he has been there and done it as a player, and in a dressing room – not always the easiest of environments – and that brings him instant respect.
Zinedine Zidane is another man for whom that is guaranteed. Players realise they have been in their positions, they have been annoyed with their managers, low on confidence, down on their luck, or flying high – so they know when to push it or when to let something lie.
But they also know that their manager will realise when someone is swinging the lead and needs a kick up the backside.
Chelsea, who face Swansea today, have started the season well and there are further positives for Conte that will have his side battling for the title all the way until May.
Giddy
The fact all eyes are on Pep Guardiola and Mourinho in Manchester means that, by and large, he will be able to fly under the radar, certainly for the first half of the season, and while we’re all getting giddy about those two he can really kick Chelsea on.
Then there’s the signings of N’Golo Kante and Michy Batshuayi, who are Grade A signings for today and the future.
Batshuayi has every chance to go on to be the Didier Drogba figure they’ve been looking for since the big man first left the club.
I’m not saying he will be as good as Drogba, but he has the physicality, belief and a couple of international team-mates already at the club to help him.
Like Liverpool, when they nearly won the Premier League a couple of seasons ago, and like Leicester when they went all the way last year, Chelsea don’t have Champions League football to worry about.
That means their players will get the extra rest they need and that Conte can commit more time to training.
I still have Man City just ahead of Chelsea in terms of their squads and who I think will win the Premier League title.
But I believe the first XI Conte can put out is more battle-hardened in terms of winning the title than the one Mourinho can put out at Man United.
Many fans think United or City will sweep to the title and that Chelsea will be among the also-rans.
But I’m not one of them – for me the London Blues are the Blues of Manchester’s main rivals.
Conte knows what it’s like to lift the title as a manager, having guided Juve to three in a row.
And, just as importantly for Hazard and Co, he knows what it’s like to do it as a player, too. JACK GREALISH has earned his new deal at Aston Villa – just – but he really needs to kick on now.
Just to be on par this season, he needs to be one of the top four or five performers in the Championship and getting in as a regular with the England Under-21s.
I want to see Grealish (above) help Villa to get back to the Premier League and then start being the creative midfield player he can be.
Look at the progress Dele Alli has made. A lot of people would have had Grealish ahead of him a few years ago, but that’s not the case now.
So enough talking, tweeting and posting photos on Instagram, Jack, it’s time to get your head down.