JOSE MOURINHO SAYS Nemanja Matic has been a “giant” since returning to Chelsea last January.
The 26-year-old rejoined the Blues from Benfica in January and has been an almost ever-present for the west Londoners and picked up the man-of-the-match award in the Premier League leader’s 2-1 win over Liverpool on Saturday.
Mourinho was effusive in his praise for the Serb’s efforts in the past 10 months, telling reporters: “He is the best player.
“He was signed in the most difficult market. Which is for the players who are coming in mid-season, so the last half of the season was for him to improve, not adaptation, as he was a Chelsea player before, but to improve.
“At this moment he is a giant, not for his size but for the way he plays. The man is a giant.”
Mourinho also hailed the mentality of his side, likening them to the championship-winning teams he has coached around Europe and says they remind him of the Chelsea outfit he forged in his first spell at Stamford Bridge.
He added: “I was champion in different countries, with different clubs. And there are points which are always present.
“I had it in Inter, Porto and Madrid and I have it here. I had it here in my first spell and I have it now, and this is something that I always have, people who are willing to sacrifice for the team, people who are willing to push, push to help, so I am so pleased with that.”
What a waste of time. But im sure louth will have enjoyed the big day out in croke park eh
@Brian Dunne: The three provincial finals so far have been awful, hopefully Ulster is a bit better.
@Bert Carolan: Time to scrap them and run all-Ireland competitions a few weeks after the league end.
@Brian Dunne: ah now Brain nod say there’s a few of your i20’s lads would love a crack at Dublin for a Leinster title
@mainmsam: *id say
Gaelic football is a game that’s gone down the drain,between calling for a ‘mark’,handpassing,scoring by hand it’s just terrible to watch.not to take anything away from Dublin winning today,best of luck to them. I seen a few minutes of the game today and switched it off,I haven’t watched a game of Gaelic in years and won’t be watching anytime soon either.as a youngster watching on in the 80’s and 90’s it was a completely different game.can anything be done to save the game ?
@Jb Walshe: Yawn. Already been some brilliant games this year. That game was very 80s/90s esque as well. Stick to the hurling good man
@Jb Walshe: As you don’t watch gaelic football you probably didn’t watch the Ulster final today
Could have put those games on gaa go. See if anyone would watch them outside the 6 counties that played in those finals
What a competition
Utterly pointless game
Bit of silverware is a bit of silverware love to see it
Do people actually watch this?
@Donie Nagle: yes, probably a dub thing
@Donie Nagle: Yes
Them bloody Dubs are at it again…
Sam is homesick
Split Dublin in two
@KY22: and have an all Dublin Leinster final??
Louth goalkeeper was quoted by RTE commentator that he sees himself as outfield player first and a goalkeeper second well by golly that showed today. If your tge actual goalkeeper and perform like that you deserve everything you get. Maybe stick to been a keeper and you might actually be able to save something.
Levels.
Dublin will most likely reach an All Ireland quarter final and only have played one ( Roscommon) Division One team. I can see Dessie Farrell’s point, especially if Dublin come up against a more hardened team who have played competitive games.
I believe in a few years we will have the Provincial Championships in February before the League starts. They will become what the O’Byrne and McKenna Cups are now.
Also, the lopsided nature of Provincial Championships doesn’t allow the new format for the All Ireland series to be a true reflection of the top sixteen teams in the country.
@Gerry Thompson: no, they are too important to too many counties. Try telling Sligo, Clare, Louth or Armagh that they should be downgraded. Try telling Limerick from last year, tipp from a couple of years ago, Cavan etc. Even Roscommon, Meath, Derry, Monaghan, it’s their All Ireland ATM. It’s worth winning and more important than league or Tailteann Cup. Dublin and Kerry dominating their province is a necessary evil unfortunately but when someone does beat them in the Leinster final it will be huge for that county.
Time to put the Leinster and Munster football championships out to pasture. There hasn’t been a Connacht Hurling Championship since the mid 90s for the same reason. Dublin & Kerry pummelling all round them is a futile exercise.
@Colm: Tipp won Munster in 2020…..