Bye Bye Jose…
...But like the terminator you know he ‘will be back’
The news may have shocked most supporters when it broke at 1:45am on Thursday 20th September 2007 but at the same time it was obvious that the distance between the manager as well as the frustrations in the Chelsea camp were growing.
Before the dismal performance (and attendance) against Rosenburg in the Champions League, it was clear for all to see that things in the blue half of West London were not as bright and rosy as they were made out to be. The only real surprise behind Mourinho’s departure was that is came three or so months after we all expected it to be announced.
Cracks in the fractious off the field relationship between manager and Chairman became clear last season when Jose continually complained very publically about not being allowed to bring in defensive cover when the club lost John Terry during the January transfer window. The Chelsea boss it seemed was vetoed from making a move for Tal Ben Haim of Bolton, a player who he later signed on a free transfer in the Summer but according to Jose this move was made ‘seven months to late’.
2006/7 turned out to be fruitless season for the club in terms of premiership successes and Mourinho believed very much that the lack of being able to select a ‘well established, top class defender’ at the crucial time in the season evidently cost Chelsea a hat trick of League titles, something which the Portuguese manager was extremely unhappy about. The saga of Ben Haim caused the at best fractious relationship to break down even more. Both men fought their corner, one by saying lots and the other by saying and doing nothing. Abrahmovic’s closest ally on the Chelsea board Peter Kenyon informed supporters that the reason a defender had not been signed was because the blues wanted to do things ‘properley’. Meaning that despite the obvious wad of cash which was available to their manager, Chelsea were going to do the sensible thing any other club might do in their situation and make a move for the defender when his contract ran out in the Summer.
Clearly having been blessed with a pretty much open cheque book in his previous three years, Mourinho was unhappy that at a crucial time the purse strings were being rolled in. Despite many attempts to clear up the situation, including many press conference attempts by Mourinho to insist that he would not leave unless Chelsea sacked him, it was obvious that things were not right and despite a hand shake between the two and confirmation from Kenyon that everything was ok, the problems seemed to roll over in the new campaign with the introduction of Avram Grant into the Chelsea infrastructure. Mourinho was unhappy that yet again Abrahmovic seemed to be putting pleasure before football and although the Israeli was believed to be assisting the flailing Andrey Shevchenko, it was clear that his role and position in the structure was too close for Jose’s comfort.
Although no official line has been provided on the reasons Jose left and the worlds richest mute still fails to open his mouth and inform us of exactly what happened on the 20th Septemeber following the Rosenborg game. There is certain to be many conspiracy theories tagged onto the story. It seems that Mourinho has been gagged by Chelsea and as insider sources suggest that the Portuguese manager refused to quit it seems logical that the reason he received a huge pay off from the club was not only to keep his mouth shut but also a sign that he was in fact levered out of the job rather than selecting to leave in his own personal way. For years the stories may circulate what actually happened but one thing is for certain, the English game has lost a character and the Chelsea players have lost a truly great manager.
If Chelsea continue to perform as badly as they have done in their recent Premier League matches under Grant then the unrest at the Bridge will continue, but Blues fans be warned, as much as you hate to admit it, the fate of you club is in the hands of a Russian Billionaire not the 40,000 who turn up to Stamford Bridge each week. Continual chanting for Mourinho and continued question of the regime may cause a devastating house of cards effects in West London and if the unthinkable were to happen and Abrahmovic decided to call it a day there realistically would be no way back for the club and we would have yet another example of a top class club threated with extinction. Although it is high unlikely that Roman Abrahmovic will suddenly pull out the financial muscle he brings to Chelsea, things will get worse for Chelsea in their current state before they get better and even with all the talented players they have, it is difficult to see them mounting a challenge for the title whilst so many problems and squad disenchantment exists.
As for Mourinho, it is in questionable that he will return to the Premiership at some stage of his career to once again enlighten the league with his sheer presence. With the current regime in charge and everything that has gone before it is difficult to see him returning to Chelsea, the club he loves, but stranger things of happens. For the time being, like a lost love, we much reflect on the genius of Mourinho as ‘not knowing what we had until we lost it’, if Chelsea fail to win any silverware this season, they will certainly rue the day that the ‘special ones’ love affair with the blues was ended.
Before the dismal performance (and attendance) against Rosenburg in the Champions League, it was clear for all to see that things in the blue half of West London were not as bright and rosy as they were made out to be. The only real surprise behind Mourinho’s departure was that is came three or so months after we all expected it to be announced.
Cracks in the fractious off the field relationship between manager and Chairman became clear last season when Jose continually complained very publically about not being allowed to bring in defensive cover when the club lost John Terry during the January transfer window. The Chelsea boss it seemed was vetoed from making a move for Tal Ben Haim of Bolton, a player who he later signed on a free transfer in the Summer but according to Jose this move was made ‘seven months to late’.
2006/7 turned out to be fruitless season for the club in terms of premiership successes and Mourinho believed very much that the lack of being able to select a ‘well established, top class defender’ at the crucial time in the season evidently cost Chelsea a hat trick of League titles, something which the Portuguese manager was extremely unhappy about. The saga of Ben Haim caused the at best fractious relationship to break down even more. Both men fought their corner, one by saying lots and the other by saying and doing nothing. Abrahmovic’s closest ally on the Chelsea board Peter Kenyon informed supporters that the reason a defender had not been signed was because the blues wanted to do things ‘properley’. Meaning that despite the obvious wad of cash which was available to their manager, Chelsea were going to do the sensible thing any other club might do in their situation and make a move for the defender when his contract ran out in the Summer.
Clearly having been blessed with a pretty much open cheque book in his previous three years, Mourinho was unhappy that at a crucial time the purse strings were being rolled in. Despite many attempts to clear up the situation, including many press conference attempts by Mourinho to insist that he would not leave unless Chelsea sacked him, it was obvious that things were not right and despite a hand shake between the two and confirmation from Kenyon that everything was ok, the problems seemed to roll over in the new campaign with the introduction of Avram Grant into the Chelsea infrastructure. Mourinho was unhappy that yet again Abrahmovic seemed to be putting pleasure before football and although the Israeli was believed to be assisting the flailing Andrey Shevchenko, it was clear that his role and position in the structure was too close for Jose’s comfort.
Although no official line has been provided on the reasons Jose left and the worlds richest mute still fails to open his mouth and inform us of exactly what happened on the 20th Septemeber following the Rosenborg game. There is certain to be many conspiracy theories tagged onto the story. It seems that Mourinho has been gagged by Chelsea and as insider sources suggest that the Portuguese manager refused to quit it seems logical that the reason he received a huge pay off from the club was not only to keep his mouth shut but also a sign that he was in fact levered out of the job rather than selecting to leave in his own personal way. For years the stories may circulate what actually happened but one thing is for certain, the English game has lost a character and the Chelsea players have lost a truly great manager.
If Chelsea continue to perform as badly as they have done in their recent Premier League matches under Grant then the unrest at the Bridge will continue, but Blues fans be warned, as much as you hate to admit it, the fate of you club is in the hands of a Russian Billionaire not the 40,000 who turn up to Stamford Bridge each week. Continual chanting for Mourinho and continued question of the regime may cause a devastating house of cards effects in West London and if the unthinkable were to happen and Abrahmovic decided to call it a day there realistically would be no way back for the club and we would have yet another example of a top class club threated with extinction. Although it is high unlikely that Roman Abrahmovic will suddenly pull out the financial muscle he brings to Chelsea, things will get worse for Chelsea in their current state before they get better and even with all the talented players they have, it is difficult to see them mounting a challenge for the title whilst so many problems and squad disenchantment exists.
As for Mourinho, it is in questionable that he will return to the Premiership at some stage of his career to once again enlighten the league with his sheer presence. With the current regime in charge and everything that has gone before it is difficult to see him returning to Chelsea, the club he loves, but stranger things of happens. For the time being, like a lost love, we much reflect on the genius of Mourinho as ‘not knowing what we had until we lost it’, if Chelsea fail to win any silverware this season, they will certainly rue the day that the ‘special ones’ love affair with the blues was ended.