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December 23, 2013December 23, 2013

The Demystification of Jose Mourinho

By Darasimi Oshodi

“I don’t feel comfortable enough to tell you what I think about the game. We’re in trouble. It is a concern [conceding so many goals]. I don’t like it, I don’t organise my teams to be like this.”

Jose Mourinho, December, 2013

I have got a huge respect for Jose Mourinho, even if I don’t particularly like him because I am a faithful supporter of Arsenal and considering the fact that Arsenal have never beaten a team coached by Mourinho as far as I know. Truth be told, Mourinho has had phenomenal achievements as a football coach: two Champions League Cups, seven league titles in four different countries, going nine years undefeated in home league games, among other achievements.

He has proved to the footballing world too many times that he is the king of tactics and I think he is the most tactical football coach in the world currently.

I believe he is a special one. I don’t agree with the special one tag that he has been carrying since his first sojourn in English football. He is indeed special, just as my favourite coach, Arsene Wenger is very special. In fact, there are many special coaches around: Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola, Jupp Heynckes, Marcello Lippi, Harry Redknapp, etc.

Mourinho came to the English Premiership on the heels of his success in the Champions League with FC Porto, which was a very significant achievement on its own. As coach of Chelsea, Mourinho took the English football arena by storm by winning two titles in his first season in England. Chelsea lost only one game during that season.

After an unceremonious exit from Chelsea, he went to Italy as coach of Inter Milan in 2008 and he won the Italian Serie A (2009), (2010), Italian Cup (2010). In fact, in 2010, he led Inter to win a treble: the Serie A, the Italian cup and the UEFA Champions league.

He left Inter and came to Spain as coach of Real Madrid in 2010 and this was where his unraveling began despite the fact that he started on a very bright note. It got so bad that he did not win a major tiltle in his last season in charge at Real Madrid. Before the 2012/2013 season, he had led Real Madrid to victories in the 2011 Copa Del Roy and 2012 La Liga. He never won the double in Spain; a feat he had achieved with his previous clubs. It was during his last season at Real Madrid that the Mourinho effect started wearing off on all of us. The same Jose Mourinho who had looked unbeatable now looked very beatable and this was proved again and again during that season. The Mourinho whom we had all thought would always win a final lost to Athletico Madrid in the final of the 2012 Kings Cup and that was when Mourinho was finally demystified. Continue reading “The Demystification of Jose Mourinho”

October 31, 2012October 31, 2012

Chelsea FC Beat Manchester United Miserably in Capital One Cup

By Alistair Magowan

Chelsea’s attackers were too much for a young Manchester United defence as they won to book a place against Leeds in the Capital One Cup last eight.

Chelsea made two defensive errors as Ryan Giggs and Javier Hernandez scored either side of David Luiz’s penalty.

Gary Cahill made it 2-2 and it appeared Nani’s chipped finish would win it but Eden Hazard scored another spot-kick.

Daniel Sturridge and Ramires both registered in extra time before Giggs added a late consolation penalty.

Luiz also hit the bar in the added half hour as Chelsea finished on top and were rewarded for introducing the cream of their talent from the bench.

But they were thankful to young United centre-back Scott Wootton, who pushed Ramires to gift Chelsea their second penalty in injury time and then left his header back to Anders Lindegaard short as Sturridge finally found the net. Continue reading “Chelsea FC Beat Manchester United Miserably in Capital One Cup”

July 3, 2012July 3, 2012

Former Chelsea Boss Andre Villas-Boas Appointed Tottenham Hotspur Manager

Former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has been appointed the new head coach of Tottenham Hotspur, three weeks after Harry Redknapp was sacked.

Villas-Boas, 34, returns to football on a three-year contract four months after his dismissal at Chelsea.

“For me, this is one of the most exciting coaching positions in the Premier League,” said Villas-Boas.

“This is a squad any coach would love to work with. Together I believe we can bring success in the seasons ahead.”

Despite winning the Portuguese domestic double and the Europa League at Porto in 2010-11, Villas-Boas was sacked by Chelsea less than 12 months into a three-year contract in March.

In the wake of Redknapp’s dismissal, former France coach Laurent Blanc, Wigan’s Roberto Martinez, Fabio Capello and former Tottenham striker Jurgen Klinsmann were linked with the post before the ex-Porto boss emerged as Spurs’ preferred candidate.

“He has an outstanding reputation for his technical knowledge of the game and for creating well-organised teams capable of playing football in an attractive and attacking style,” Spurs chairman Daniel Levy told the club’s official website.

“Andre shares our long-term ambitions and ethos of developing players and nurturing young talent, and he will be able to do so now at a new world-class training centre.”

Villas-Boas brings with him two members of the coaching staff who served under him at Chelsea, first-team fitness coach Jose Mario Rocha and Daniel Sousa, head of opposition scouting.

And Levy hinted that Tottenham would now look to add to their playing staff in the close season.

“It is important we now look to develop the potential within the squads at all levels, while strengthening the first team in the summer in key positions with players who will become part of the future success of the club,” he said.

Tottenham, who finished fourth in the Premier League table last season, launch the 2012-13 season away to Newcastle on 18 August.

Villas-Boas is scheduled to lead Spurs into action against his former club Chelsea on 20 October at White Hart Lane, with the Portuguese due to return to Stamford Bridge on 13 April.

His arrival follows last week’s news that winger Gareth Bale, 22, has signed a new four-year-deal with Spurs.

Andre Villas-Boas factfile

Born: 17 October 1977 in Porto, Portgual
Managerial career: Academica, Porto, Chelsea
Chelsea highs: Champions League group wins over over Bayer Leverkusen (2-0), Genk (5-0) and Valencia (3-0)
Chelsea lows: Won one of his last six Premier League games in charge as Chelsea dropped out of the race for the Premier League title, and was sacked after 256 days in charge

BBC Sports

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June 10, 2012June 12, 2012

Chelsea to Appointment Roberto Di Matteo as Permanent Manager

Chelsea are expected to confirm the permanent appointment of Roberto Di Matteo as manager this week.

The Italian’s representatives spent the weekend in talks with Chelsea officials and the 41-year-old has been assured he is the man Roman Abramovich wants.

Di Matteo has agreed to accept the position in principle and the remaining contractual issues are expected to be ironed out this week.

The former West Brom manager returns Continue reading “Chelsea to Appointment Roberto Di Matteo as Permanent Manager”

April 24, 2012June 12, 2012

Ten-Men Chelsea Stun Barcelona in Championship League

Chelsea are into the final of the Champions League after surviving John Terry’s red card to seal a truly remarkable victory over Barcelona.

The Blues were in serious trouble after goals from Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta put Barca ahead either side of Terry’s red card for violent conduct.

But Ramires strode forward to chip the away side back ahead in the tie.

Lionel Messi hit the bar with a penalty for Barca and Fernando Torres ran clear to seal the tie in injury time.

Earlier in the week, Torres had said “the best team does not always win”. His words proved gloriously prophetic for England’s last men standing in Europe as they fought tooth and nail to scrap their way past the continent’s finest and into the final in Munich on 19 May.

The game turned logic on its head. Holders Barcelona had scored 102 goals at the Nou Camp this campaign and were unbeaten in 15 European home fixtures dating back to October 2009, having won 13 and drawn two, during which time they had scored 18 goals. Continue reading “Ten-Men Chelsea Stun Barcelona in Championship League”

September 10, 2011September 10, 2011

Asamoah Gyan leaves Sunderland for UAE side Al-Ain

yan made 37 appearances for Sunderland, scoring 11 goals

Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan has signed for United Arab Emirates side Al-Ain on loan.

The Ghanaian joined Sunderland from French club Rennes in August 2010 for £13m.

But on Friday, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce claimed “parasites” turned Gyan’s head after his goal in the 1-1 draw with England at Wembley in March.

And on Saturday it was announced that the striker, 25, was on his way to the UAE.

Bruce said: “Anyone who has seen Asamoah play will know that he hasn’t been himself in recent months. This option suits all parties at the present time and the club is well-protected in the deal.

“Asamoah has three years remaining on his contract and of course my wish would be that he finds his spark again and we see him in red and white stripes next season in the form that first attracted us to him.”

Throughout the transfer window, Gyan was linked with a move to a big European club.

On Friday Bruce blamed agents for turning Gyan’s head.

“Since that game at Wembley, all the parasites, as I call them, hover around,” said Bruce.

“People are in his ear constantly trying to engineer a deal for him. Certainly since the England game, when he played at Wembley so well on the night, something has been troubling him.

“It’s very difficult, the constant speculation, no matter what you try to quash or quell, and the people around him, the people who want to make a fast buck, and it affects him in the end.

“He was going from Real Madrid to Bayern Munich to Valencia to Atletico Madrid.”

Bruce added on Friday that he had challenged the striker to rediscover his form.

“I had a conversation with him two days ago to say: ‘Look, the window as now closed, Asa,” Bruce said. “Right, we need to see you back playing again and back the way you know you can play’.”

Gyan – who has yet to score this season – was due to miss Saturday’s Premier League match with Chelsea because of a hamstring problem picked up on international duty with Ghana

November 9, 2010January 8, 2011

Drogba Catches Malaria

Chelsea’s Didier Drogba has been treated for malaria and will be fit to face Fulham in the Premier League on Wednesday night.

The Ivory Coast forward complained of a fever on the eve of Sunday’s match against Liverpool and only came on as a second-half substitute in a 2-0 loss.

“Obviously he lost power and training – he lost his condition,” Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said Tuesday. “He’s had treatment and now he’s OK. He’ll come back immediately in the best condition.

“He suffered, obviously, because he wasn’t 100 percent but now, after treatment, he’ll be better. He had malaria. He had the tests in the last day, and they showed this kind of virus. Now he’s good.”

Ancelotti does not know where Drogba contracted malaria.

“I gave him a few days off and he went on holiday for a few days, and then he has malaria,” Ancelotti said. “But it’s over now.”

Chelsea leads the league, two points ahead of second-place Manchester United.

(The Washington Post)