The Special One has gone. The man so revered and adored by all Chelsea fans was sacked by Roman Abramovich today for the second time in eight years, but, this time, around, the Chelsea owner has made the right decision.
Back when Jose rejoined Chelsea in 2013, most expected it was going to be for the long term. That Chelsea’s dominance would equal that of Fergie’s legendary spell at United. And in his second season, Mourinho’s looked to be on that path. Ruthless attacking play coupled with water tight defence, Chelsea marched to the title with little opposition.
After winning the Premier League with ease, critics expected Jose to elevate his side and win the one trophy he never managed to capture with Chelsea. The Champions League. With blossoming young stars in Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Kurt Zouma alongside established superstars in John Terry, Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa, there was no way Chelsea could fail. Then came the 2015 season.
Chelsea faced off against Arsenal in the Community Shield and Wenger finally broke his duck against Mourinho. Chelsea looked slow, uninterested and lethargic. But it was the start of the season. This was Mourinho. Chelsea fans never even considered Mourinho could fail.
An uneasy draw with Swansea brought along another controversy with the comments towards Chelsea physio Eva Carneiro plaguing the team for weeks, an unnecessary cloud of doubt that has hung over the team’s head. Chelsea then travelled to the Etihad and were thumped by City 3-0. Once again, the players look unmotivated and were thoroughly beaten. Controversy prevailed with the ever-present John Terry, the heart and soul of Chelsea, was replaced at half-time. It seemed like Chelsea were spiralling out of control.
One loss turned into nine in just 16 league games. It wasn’t bad for Jose, it was embarrassing. Pain, anger and even confusion crossed the Special One’s face, perplexed by his side’s inability to perform. Mourinho tried dropping under performing stars in Fabregas, Costa and Matic. It didn’t work. Last year’s Player of the year Eden Hazard was a shadow of his former self and has not scored in 2000 minutes of football for Chelsea.
Many will point the finger of blame to Mourinho. It was his arrogance. It was his tactics. But the players who have won the title last season because of Mourinho have abandoned him. It is why Jose has had to go. It is clear he has lost the dressing room. World class players don’t switch off over night (aside from Fernando Torres) and world class managers don’t lose their touch after winning the title. Mourinho should have seen that results would not have improved with these players, and Chelsea could not afford to suffer all season.
If the Chelsea players wanted Mourinho to stay, they would have shown it. They would be fighting and clawing for every ball. They would have been covering every blade of grass and run themselves into the ground for their manager. They simply did not have the fight that Mourinho has wanted and expected.
The old guard of Petr Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba had typified Chelsea for so long. They were the players Mourinho knew and loved. When Cech and Drogba left in the summer, a huge hole also opened up in the dressing room. When leaders of that ilk leave, new leaders have to step up. Senior members such as Fabregas, Costa and Ivanovic were expected to be those new leaders and to form a new guard to usher in new glorious Mourinho reign. Ironically, those 3 players, amongst others, have been chief culprits of Chelsea’s results this season and the ones that have frankly let down their manager. Maybe failing to replace those leaders was one of Jose’s greatest downfalls.
So, why did Mourinho have to leave? Because the players were simply not there for him. No manager can have success if his players do not want him there. Could Mourinho be blamed losing the dressing room? We could never know what happened over this disastrous season. But nine losses in 16 games isn’t the standard we have expected of Mourinho. We have never seen a Mourinho side suffer a run of form this bad. It’s hard to blame the manager when it is so clear that he has never had a side perform this badly. The blame should stand among the players.
In the end, Mourinho should have stepped down. It was clear that the players were not playing for him and while it may have hurt his pride, he should have never forced the Chelsea management to make this move. Now, the fans will be alienated and their discontent with the board’s decision will be felt. Mourinho knows that these performances were not up to standard and he should have jumped before he was pushed.
Jose will bounce back. The man has had success at every stop of his career and that will continue. Losing the trust of the club he loves will hurt, but will likely drive him further. His reputation still stands. There will be bewilderment and scepticism from his next employers, but this is a man who does not deal in failure. There is a reason why he is Chelsea’s most successful manager.
The legacy of Mourinho will still live long. Arguably, the most divisive character and manager in the Premier League, his name will be forever etched into the fabric of Chelsea Football Club. He made this team. He put the club where they are today. The fans should be forever thankful. Their support and love for Jose has never wavered.
Now Chelsea will move onto to a successor, likely in the form of Guardiola or Simeone. However, Chelsea will never find another manager like Mourinho.
Now I promise exactly the same things I promised in 2004 with this difference to add: I’m one of you.
Jose Mourinho, 2013.
