MOURINHO COULD'NT STOP CHELSEA ROT
Chelsea announced on Thursday that Jose Mourinho had left the club by 'mutual consent' after overseeing a run of nine defeats in 16 Premier League matches
Jose Mourinho was not only failing to stop the rot by the time his end came at Chelsea, he himself seemed to be causing a large part of it.
Sometimes overstated is the impact a manager can have on his players' output. While Mourinho was content to tell anyone who listened that he was responsible for taking his players to a level beyond what they would otherwise be capable of, he was not half as forthright in accepting anything approaching blame for their deficiencies during a season in which they have lost nine of their 16 Premier League matches. When world-class players are happy they play well, when they are not, they don't.
Whatever special touch he might have had has deserted him and he was left contemplating a title defence so weak that it cost him his job only seven months after delivering the glory.
Whatever special touch he might have had has deserted him and he was left contemplating a title defence so weak that it cost him his job only seven months after delivering the glory.
Now Chelsea are facing a critical juncture of the season with no permanent coach. Juande Ramos, a firefighter in his time at Real Madrid, could be about to be drafted in to clean up Jose's mess.
Jose is back in the jobs market but this time it is an increasingly narrow one. It has been suggested that both Barcelona and Manchester United passed on Jose in the past due to his attitude and the negative relations he fostered inside and outside the clubs at which he's worked.
He's so rich, now, and so expectant that only two or three clubs in the world could have him. But who would? Paris St-Germain are about to announce a new contract for Laurent Blanc but could have their heads turned.
Manchester United are in two minds about Louis van Gaal and could yet challenge Manchester City for Pep Guardiola's services. Real Madrid was left in institutional chaos by the time Jose left but he does retain some affection from Florentino Perez and the influential Jose Angel Sanchez. Bayern? Barcelona? Forget about it.
Jose Mourinho could only ever work in a highly-rarefied atmosphere. He created it himself at most places he's been. And now, we're not even sure if he the place for Jose exists any longer.
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