THE FIRST GLIMPSE Chelsea fans got that Jose Mourinho’s second coming was not going to be the juggernaut of 2004/05 arrived at Goodison Park in September. Two weeks after playing no-one up front against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Everton signalled their own Champions League intentions with a 1-0 win.
The Londoners were then beaten at Basel, at Stamford Bridge, four days later. October showed real signs of improvement as Eden Hazard and Oscar — so trusted that Juan Mata was jettisoned for £30m to Manchester United — started to click in midfield. November led to further wobbles as Newcastle beat them at St James’ Park, a late Hazard penalty spared the unbeaten home record against West Brom and Basel struck again in the Champions League.
In typical Mourinho style/steel, Chelsea put together a run to put them in contention for their fifth league title. They won 14 games from 17 matches to claim 44 points out of a possible 51.
There were seismic blips against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace but Mourinho, with a captain who has seen better days, a team in flux and no Didier Drogba type to finish the multitude of chances and a Champions League tilt still in progress, has his team with an outside chance of the title. The 2-1 loss to Sunderland may be the killer blow but Chelsea could yet post a clubhouse points total of 84 points, meaning Liverpool would need at least seven points from their final four games. A tricky away tie against Liverpool stands in his side’s way before Norwich [home] and Cardiff [away].
Liverpool may have to slip up away to Norwich this afternoon to give Chelsea a glimpse of the title but stranger results have happened. Here, then, is why Mourinho deserves to win Manager of the Year:
Advertisement
Leading his ‘chickens’ to the brink of success
Mourinho identified the need to carry out a root and branch transformation of Chelsea and the’re playing style after taking the reins for a second time. As he did with Damien Duff and Joe Cole in his first stint at the club, playmakers were instructed of the need to track back and work hard for the team. Juan Mata was never given much of a chance as Oscar and Eden Hazard got the attacking nod. £32m man Willian has flattered to deceive at times so Mourinho brought in Nemanja Matic in January and Chelsea have looked altogether more solid. Chelsea finished the season with 75 points in 2012/13. They are on 75 points now with three games to play and still fighting for the title.
Mourinho’s new Chelsea taking shape
Frank Lampard and John Terry often found themselves on the outside, looking in, as both Andre Villas Boas and Roberto di Matteo looked to bring fresh blood into the spine of the team. Mourinho has used Lampard sparingly in recent weeks but relied on the Englishmen heavily at the start of the season. Since then, he has favoured Hazard, Oscar and Andre Schurrle, with Matic and Ramires providing the solidity. The back four is in need of a new John Terry while 21-year-old goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is ready to step in for Petr Cech, from his loan at Atletico Madrid, if and when he is needed.
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
Despite loaning out Romelu Lukaku and [stubbornly] refusing to bring him back in January, Mourinho is aware that new strikers will be needed if his team are to become a permanent force again. If he spends wisely in the summer — Diego Costa in and Fernando Torres out, and/or Edison Cavani — Chelsea will be well set. Despite the lack of goals from forwards — 16 from three players all season in the league — the Blues are still in the hunt thanks to Mourinho’s attacking style, built on a sturdy foundation.
Meanest defensive record
As mentioned, the elongation of Terry’s career, the permanent elevation of Gary Cahill to the centre of defence and pinches of David Luiz have Chelsea looking mean at the back. They have conceded 24 goals in 38 games, 10 better off than Manchester City and 18 better than Liverpool. Petr Cech has cut down on the errors and Cesar Azpilicueta has stepped in for Ashley Cole without missing a step. They have conceded just 15 goals from 17 away games and will need to be stingy, next weekend, against a Livepool side averaging more than three goals per home game.
Impressive home form
Mourinho’s Chelsea Mark One were perfect at home in the league. 17 home matches have elicited 47 points and emphatic wins over the likes of Arsenal [6-0], Tottenham [4-0], Cardiff [4-1] and Newcastle [3-0]. Man City and Liverpool have also left Stamford Bridge without points while champions Manchester United proved no more than a minor irritation.
Jose soaks up his first home league loss as Chelsea manager. Chris Ison
Chris Ison
Sunderland ended Chelsea’s long-standing unbeaten run under Mourinho but the previous 17 matches put the Londoners in the title mix. Only struggling Norwich are left to visit London as the Portuguese’ side chase as strong a finish as possible.
A winning record against Liverpool
Mourinho takes his team to Anfield with a favourable record against the Reds. In 17 matches, over two stints, he has enjoyed victory over Liverpool eight times. There have been four draws and five defeats. Chelsea’s league record away to Brendan Rodgers’ side also gives signs of encouragement — four wins, two draws and four losses over the past 10 seasons. Liverpool have enjoyed the better of recent exchanges in Merseyside [including a 4-1 win in 2011/12].
Mourinho revels in meetings with Liverpool, however, and witnessed his side come back from 1-0 down at home, back in December, to get the better over his former pupil [Rodgers] 2-1. He will, no doubt, have a plan to staunch the attacking threat of Luise Suarez and Daniel Sturridge while springing the likes of Schurrle and Oscar on the break.
Five reasons why Jose Mourinho should win Manager of the Year
THE FIRST GLIMPSE Chelsea fans got that Jose Mourinho’s second coming was not going to be the juggernaut of 2004/05 arrived at Goodison Park in September. Two weeks after playing no-one up front against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Everton signalled their own Champions League intentions with a 1-0 win.
The Londoners were then beaten at Basel, at Stamford Bridge, four days later. October showed real signs of improvement as Eden Hazard and Oscar — so trusted that Juan Mata was jettisoned for £30m to Manchester United — started to click in midfield. November led to further wobbles as Newcastle beat them at St James’ Park, a late Hazard penalty spared the unbeaten home record against West Brom and Basel struck again in the Champions League.
In typical Mourinho style/steel, Chelsea put together a run to put them in contention for their fifth league title. They won 14 games from 17 matches to claim 44 points out of a possible 51.
There were seismic blips against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace but Mourinho, with a captain who has seen better days, a team in flux and no Didier Drogba type to finish the multitude of chances and a Champions League tilt still in progress, has his team with an outside chance of the title. The 2-1 loss to Sunderland may be the killer blow but Chelsea could yet post a clubhouse points total of 84 points, meaning Liverpool would need at least seven points from their final four games. A tricky away tie against Liverpool stands in his side’s way before Norwich [home] and Cardiff [away].
Liverpool may have to slip up away to Norwich this afternoon to give Chelsea a glimpse of the title but stranger results have happened. Here, then, is why Mourinho deserves to win Manager of the Year:
Leading his ‘chickens’ to the brink of success
Mourinho identified the need to carry out a root and branch transformation of Chelsea and the’re playing style after taking the reins for a second time. As he did with Damien Duff and Joe Cole in his first stint at the club, playmakers were instructed of the need to track back and work hard for the team. Juan Mata was never given much of a chance as Oscar and Eden Hazard got the attacking nod. £32m man Willian has flattered to deceive at times so Mourinho brought in Nemanja Matic in January and Chelsea have looked altogether more solid. Chelsea finished the season with 75 points in 2012/13. They are on 75 points now with three games to play and still fighting for the title.
Mourinho’s new Chelsea taking shape
Frank Lampard and John Terry often found themselves on the outside, looking in, as both Andre Villas Boas and Roberto di Matteo looked to bring fresh blood into the spine of the team. Mourinho has used Lampard sparingly in recent weeks but relied on the Englishmen heavily at the start of the season. Since then, he has favoured Hazard, Oscar and Andre Schurrle, with Matic and Ramires providing the solidity. The back four is in need of a new John Terry while 21-year-old goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is ready to step in for Petr Cech, from his loan at Atletico Madrid, if and when he is needed.
Despite loaning out Romelu Lukaku and [stubbornly] refusing to bring him back in January, Mourinho is aware that new strikers will be needed if his team are to become a permanent force again. If he spends wisely in the summer — Diego Costa in and Fernando Torres out, and/or Edison Cavani — Chelsea will be well set. Despite the lack of goals from forwards — 16 from three players all season in the league — the Blues are still in the hunt thanks to Mourinho’s attacking style, built on a sturdy foundation.
Meanest defensive record
As mentioned, the elongation of Terry’s career, the permanent elevation of Gary Cahill to the centre of defence and pinches of David Luiz have Chelsea looking mean at the back. They have conceded 24 goals in 38 games, 10 better off than Manchester City and 18 better than Liverpool. Petr Cech has cut down on the errors and Cesar Azpilicueta has stepped in for Ashley Cole without missing a step. They have conceded just 15 goals from 17 away games and will need to be stingy, next weekend, against a Livepool side averaging more than three goals per home game.
Impressive home form
Mourinho’s Chelsea Mark One were perfect at home in the league. 17 home matches have elicited 47 points and emphatic wins over the likes of Arsenal [6-0], Tottenham [4-0], Cardiff [4-1] and Newcastle [3-0]. Man City and Liverpool have also left Stamford Bridge without points while champions Manchester United proved no more than a minor irritation.
Sunderland ended Chelsea’s long-standing unbeaten run under Mourinho but the previous 17 matches put the Londoners in the title mix. Only struggling Norwich are left to visit London as the Portuguese’ side chase as strong a finish as possible.
A winning record against Liverpool
Mourinho takes his team to Anfield with a favourable record against the Reds. In 17 matches, over two stints, he has enjoyed victory over Liverpool eight times. There have been four draws and five defeats. Chelsea’s league record away to Brendan Rodgers’ side also gives signs of encouragement — four wins, two draws and four losses over the past 10 seasons. Liverpool have enjoyed the better of recent exchanges in Merseyside [including a 4-1 win in 2011/12].
Mourinho revels in meetings with Liverpool, however, and witnessed his side come back from 1-0 down at home, back in December, to get the better over his former pupil [Rodgers] 2-1. He will, no doubt, have a plan to staunch the attacking threat of Luise Suarez and Daniel Sturridge while springing the likes of Schurrle and Oscar on the break.
10 of the best first touches football has ever seen
Liverpool stars lead the way with three in PFA awards nominations list
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Barclays Premier League UEFA Champions League Contender happy one Jose Mourinho manager of the year Opinion Special One Chelsea Liverpool