Mourinho | New old Chelsea manager

The treble win was bankrolled by Moratti's millions, hardly a cut-price job like what he did at Porto or before.

Selling Ibrahimovic for Eto'o + 35 million helped.

Their net spend was not much under Mourinho.

It was still a team that were considerable underdogs in the CL.
 
I think people constantly miss the main factor about Mourinho. He has never been underwhelming, at any team (natural variance of the game aside, of course). People go around clutching at straws looking for flaws in his success, when there are very few.

Look at the 2004 Champions League. People keep banging about it being a bad year for big teams. Of course that was true. But who profited from it? Not Didier Deschamps, not Javier Irureta, not Claudio Ranieri or Paul Le Guen. All had the chance to make history. It was an "easy year" for all of them. But it was Mourinho who did it. Exactly the same can be applied to the UEFA Cup in the previous year. The way some people try to turn this into a negative because it was a "weak CL" it's ridiculous. If it was weak, it was weak for everyone. But only one won. And it wasn't a remaining flat track bully. We deserved all the victories, with the only debatable tie being the one against United.

At Chelsea he had huge resources, true. And he used those resources to make them into a top team, and dominated the PL for two consecutive seasons in his first time there, breaking a point record in one of them? Sure, it would be harder at Tottenham or Liverpool, but it's still an achievement. If winning with money was that easy, why the hell Mancini can't reach a comparable level of success? Why the hell PSG weren't champions last year?

At Inter, what could he do? Most resourceful squad, true. And he made use of it, winning the League, a Cup, and a Champions League.

His most underwhelming record, so far, is at Real Madrid, but even there we have to question... Could anyone do better?

He is the most reliable manager around. A "bad season" for Mourinho, is, at the very least, a second place in the League and a Cup. At least so far. And 10 years managing at the top level, and at 4 different clubs, is a very respectable sample. Including 2012-13 already, he made 10 full seasons and won the league in 7. And it would be better, had he not been against one of the most talented teams ever for the past 3 seasons. Yeah, most of the time his teams were the favourites. But how many "favourites" can boost such consistency?

Whether he's right for United or not, it's not my place to argue (though in my simplistic opinion he is the one). But to try and undermine his success, because 2004 was a weak Champions League, or because Inter or Chelsea had more money than their opposition is ridiculous. Other teams were playing in that "weak CL" and didn't won, and other teams have had loads of money and none has been as consistent as his.
 
Whether he's right for United or not, it's not my place to argue (though in my simplistic opinion he is the one). But to try and undermine his success, because 2004 was a weak Champions League, or because Inter or Chelsea had more money than their opposition is ridiculous. Other teams were playing in that "weak CL" and didn't won, and other teams have had loads of money and none has been as consistent as his.

He would fit the bill, no doubt about that.
 
The guy is the best manager around to continue bringing trophies to Old Trafford. That's all I want. It could happen this summer, but I just don't see Fergie leaving just yet, he's still got too much desire and will to win. And physically he seems fine, he was up and shot down those steps in a split second when Nani was sent off!
 
Nice when your former players are so happy to see you again.

 
Mourinho interview from As. He talks about our knockout game vs Madrid amongst other things. His disregard of the fans in the last question made me chuckle.. He just doesn't give a shit. Something that could be grating if he were to manage us though.

Mou questions FIFA vote count
In an interview with RTP, the coach said, "A number of people called me to say that they had voted for me and then it turns out that they elected someone else".

In an interview with Portuguese State television (RTP) which will be broadcast this evening, José Mourinho denounced FIFA's voting process for 2012 Ballon d'Or awards gala in which he was a candidate for the Men's Coach of the Year award. The award was given to Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque.

"I don't regret not attending the gala at all", Mourinho explained, "One, two or three people phoned me to tell me that they had voted for me and later, when the list of votes was published, another name appeared by their votes. That was why I decided not to go to the gala".

FIFA have contacted Rádio e Televisão de Portugal to rebuff Mourinho's version and said, "We can confirm that the list published by FIFA is correct".

Earlier on Tuesday, the coach spoke with Real Madrid's Television and spoke about the forthcoming Champions League quarter-final tie with Galatasaray: "We must make sure that we travel to Istanbul with a small advantage. Real Madrid should never feel happy just to reach the quarter-finals and should always aim to go further. The Copa del Rey final will also be a nice moment to look forward to for everyone".

You were spotted in the stands watching Galatasaray in action in Turkey on Sunday. What are your thoughts on the Champions League quarter-final draw?

I have spent many years contesting the Champions League quarter-finals and if there is one thing which never changes it's that every team is there for a reason. Galatasaray have not made the quarter-finals just for getting through the group stage but also for getting past the knockout tie. It's a tournament which many team start and now there are just eight teams left and the ones who are not now in the competition have been eliminated for a reason. There is no point in being nervous about the draw because there is nothing left for you to choose. Whoever you are drawn against, and obviously, some teams do have a different status to others, is not going to be easy. So that's why we have to remain calm. We are up against Galatasaray, another champion. We always get pitted against the champions of other countries - this will be the fourth time we have met the champions of a different country in the current tournament - and not forgetting Manchester United. We were already basing a lot of our work on who potentially could be our rivals in the next round. We saw how everyone else got on in the last round and we sent people, colleagues who work with me, to every one of those games. So I already have some information about all of the remaining teams in the Champions League. I am constantly working and so those who claim that I would prefer to watch my son training than work are quite wrong. So on Sunday, while everyone one else was enjoying the start of a public holiday, I travelled to Turkey and I encountered the kind of team which I expected - a side full of players who have a lot of experience in the Champions League and who have two previous winners in their ranks - Drogba and Sneijder as well as players who have played in Europe's best teams such as Eboue with Arsenal, Felipe Melo with Juventus, Riera with Liverpool and Muslera with Lazio... highly experienced players who know what it means to play at this level, and a coach who is the best manager that Turkey has ever had and who had coached in Italy... They also have unique fans, who give the kind of support that you don't see anywhere else. We thought that Dortmund or Manchester United would be tough but this is equally as tough for us. Galatasaray played 700 kilometres from Istanbul and had 15,000 travelling supporters with them. It's going to be difficult but we need to take something positive from the first game, which we didn't do against Man United. We have to go over there with a small advantage from the first leg.

And now they have Drogba...

There is much more to Drogba than what most people think. You have given me the opportunity to give you a sound bite - to say the kind of words which always comes out in the paper but I don't mind because Drogba knows the person I am and what I carry in my heart for him but I am sure that most people could get the wrong impression. Just try to imagine this: I fly out to Turkey - for work, I watch the game but leave before the final whistle and then there are declarations, supposedly mine, speaking badly about Drogba. I have never said that Didier is a favourite of mine because I have managed so many special players but if I was forced to choose just one, then quite possibly I would elect Didier. He is from another planet. I would love to have him here now so the idea of me ever saying anything bad about Drogba is impossible but the press seem to print whatever they like - anything goes. I am not worried because I know that he knows that the last thing I would ever do is come out with even the slightest negative comment about him. I coached him, and Sneijder, Altintop and I enjoyed those time immensely. Apart from that, I also have a good relationship with Galatasaray's coach and we are very open - like my friendship with Ferguson. He took me down to the locker room about 20 minutes before kick-off so I have been inside Galatasaray's changing rooms even before we play the tie - that's only something which happens when you have a good relationship and I am delighted to say that we have.

Getting to the quarter-finals meant knocking out Manchester United at Old Trafford...

That was a tough week - one which could have ended either positively or with negative repercussions if we had been eliminated from the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. Many people thought we wouldn't do it but we came through it well. It was very tough for us in Manchester and once again, there were people who think they know more about my job than I do. Some people think that they can analyze me or enter inside my brain and understand everything I do - but they didn't know what my intentions were when I spoke after the match. Nor does that bother me. All that I do care about is that my team is aware that there are more, even bigger battles ahead - that we have not achieved anything and also that we had to try to control the final minutes of that match in a different way and that you cannot end a game like that with your goalkeeper as your best player on the night. Of course, that what the keeper is there for but I would prefer my goalkeeper not to be the only one putting in a good performance. I had wanted my team to control the match with more calm but they didn't. But then, that's what playing Manchester United is all about - my players told me afterwards that it wasn't easy and I know. In England, they call it 'Fergie Time' - it's the last five or 10 minutes of the match when United are playing at Old Trafford and that is when they are most dangerous - when they have turned many historic games around just by drawing on the emotion of the fans. That's why it wasn't easy. It was a great victory but Real Madrid cannot conform with just getting to the quarter-finals. They need to aim higher. That is why we are setting our sights on making the semi-finals.

The general feeling among the fans is that everything appears to be going to plan...

I don't know whether the fans are happy or not, I have no idea.
http://www.as.com/english/articulo/mou-questions-fifa-vote-count/20130319dasdenspo_8/Ten#
 
Mourinho interview from As. He talks about our knockout game vs Madrid amongst other things. His disregard of the fans in the last question made me chuckle.. He just doesn't give a shit. Something that could be grating if he were to manage us though.


Was he like that with the Chelsea and Milan fans, thought?

I don't think he likes the Madrid fans because they seem to be a bunch of cnuts.
 
PSG will appeal to him I'm sure of it but I don't know if they will make that big a play for him to be honest. Ancelotti is hardly a shite manager is he and he is going along very nicely this season, although Barca will probably KO them, that's hardly a great failure in the CL. Reaching the QF can be seen as progress for PSG this season.
 
PSG will appeal to him I'm sure of it but I don't know if they will make that big a play for him to be honest. Ancelotti is hardly a shite manager is he and he is going along very nicely this season, although Barca will probably KO them, that's hardly a great failure in the CL. Reaching the QF can be seen as progress for PSG this season.

Why? Do you think he gives a shit about playing the likes of Metz and Toulouse week in week out. French Ligue sucks
 
Why? Do you think he gives a shit about playing the likes of Metz and Toulouse week in week out. French Ligue sucks

:lol:

I doubt Mourinho would be interested in PSG. However, the idea of adding another league to his collection and having a crack at the CL with loads of cash to spend might entice him a little bit. Would only be a short term gig, though.
 
Re: PSG ~ I think he's just putting himself in the shop window. There are fresh rumours from Italy that he's bound for Inter, with Rafa's mate Materazzi in tow.
 
Would be great if he could postpone going to England for a few years yet..
 
Why? Do you think he gives a shit about playing the likes of Metz and Toulouse week in week out. French Ligue sucks

No of course he doesn't though he probably wouldn't mind keeping the domestic title wins run going, that would be 5 different countries he's won the league in.

Mourinho is clearly obsessed with the CL as he knows that's where the greats are judged. PSG would pay him shitloads and would give him a bottomless pit of cash to win it for them. What's not to like?
 
He'll be wasted there. Abramovich is showing no signs of changing.

Since Porto he has worked for nothing but difficult chairmen, something I think he has bemoaned from time to time. He could do with being the main man. Only one top club can offer him that.

Wycome Wande....Oh yeah, United.

I'm still unsure whether I want him at United. He speaks very highly of United, but I'm not too keen with his playing style. Plus, he's not big on giving youth products a chance (I might be completely wrong with that, but I can't remember him giving anyone chances at Chelsea - and at Madrid, the only youngster I see is Varane who shouldn't really count due to him being class anyway and isn't from Madrid's youth system).

I'll probably change my mind next week, and may revert back the following week. I guess I'll only truly know who I want when the dreading day comes when Fergie steps down.
 
Wycome Wande....Oh yeah, United.

I'm still unsure whether I want him at United. He speaks very highly of United, but I'm not too keen with his playing style. Plus, he's not big on giving youth products a chance (I might be completely wrong with that, but I can't remember him giving anyone chances at Chelsea - and at Madrid, the only youngster I see is Varane who shouldn't really count due to him being class anyway and isn't from Madrid's youth system).

I'll probably change my mind next week, and may revert back the following week. I guess I'll only truly know who I want when the dreading day comes when Fergie steps down.

Our next manager will be a stop-gap, might as well be Mourinho.
 
I think a move to Chelsea/Inter would make sense, I don't think he wants to move to City as it would kill off his chances of managing here.. but at the same time I feel he isn't going to be the next United manager.. Pep is.
 
There's a picture on Jeremy Vine's Twitter of Mourinho supposedly in Knightsbridge after holding talks with Abramovic...

"LOOKING GOOD. Mourinho in Knightsbridge this afternoon after reportedly holding talks with Roman. pic.twitter.com/Jydfic1U4U (via @FFChelseaFC)"
 
It's looking more and more likely to me by the day. Hope not. But doesn't mean he can't come to us in the future though.
 
Rather Chelsea win the league than City so at least he won't be going there. Exactly what City need right now.
 
I bumped into Jose in Harrods a month or so back, was no reason for him to be in London, obviously was meeting Jose - but buying him a present prior to it
 
If JM goes to chelsea, I don't think he'll ever manage here. This isn't the Doc or Sexton era, nor is JM either of those two....if he goes to chelsea, he's never coming here.

JM -> chelsea, fergie stays till pep leaves bayern or ole is ready. city will probably try for someone like carlo.
 
Great news if true; Mourinho and Chelsea are a perfect match.

Yeah they really do just fit. I wouldn't mind it if he went there, would be entertaining to have him back in the league and Chelsea's squad is so far off ours that they aren't a serious threat, for a few seasons anyway.

If he does go then it puts to bed any indication that Abramovich is losing interest though, and without a doubt Mourinho will have a significant budget to work with. He wouldn't take over a shite Chelsea team without the guarantee of investment.
 
Can't believe people are so relaxed about Jose apparently going back to Chelski, do you guys not remember the last time he was at Chelski, they just ran away with it! So forget Chelski vs Citeh - what about us! With a Jose-led Chelski, winning the league is going to be quite a lot more difficult!
 
Can't believe people are so relaxed about Jose apparently going back to Chelski, do you guys not remember the last time he was at Chelski, they just ran away with it! So forget Chelski vs Citeh - what about us! With a Jose-led Chelski, winning the league is going to be quite a lot more difficult!

Agreed.
 
Can't believe people are so relaxed about Jose apparently going back to Chelski, do you guys not remember the last time he was at Chelski, they just ran away with it! So forget Chelski vs Citeh - what about us! With a Jose-led Chelski, winning the league is going to be quite a lot more difficult!

He didnt run away with it in 2007. :devil:
 
Can't believe people are so relaxed about Jose apparently going back to Chelski, do you guys not remember the last time he was at Chelski, they just ran away with it! So forget Chelski vs Citeh - what about us! With a Jose-led Chelski, winning the league is going to be quite a lot more difficult!

More difficult, certainly. But we had a weaker team during the years he was at Chelsea than we do now. Personally, I'd rather see Mourinho back at Chelsea whilst we still have Fergie than at the same time as a new man steps in at United.