Chelsea forward Fernando Torres has suggested that he, along with his team-mates, would welcome the opportunity to work with the club’s former manager Jose Mourinho, amid speculation over a possible return to Stamford Bridge for the Special One.
The Spanish forward was quoted by The Sun:
“Mourinho is a big coach and is very much wanted at Chelsea.
“I’ll work with him anytime but I know it’s difficult.”
Torres’ comments may have been taken out of context somewhat, but many believe that Carlo Ancelotti is not likely to be the Chelsea manager for the 2011/12 season and it has also been suggested that Jose Mourinho, who has his own issues at Real Madrid, more or less has his pick of which club he will manage next.
It’s thought that Mourinho would prefer to return to England’s Premier League – his spiritual home – and has been linked to a host of clubs, including Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, and even a potential return to Stamford Bridge.
The Portuguese manager enjoyed a successful spell in west London winning two Premier League titles, two Carling Cups, an FA Cup and a Community Shield, but the arrival of outside influences, like Frank Arnesen and Avram Grant soured relations and arguably contributed to Mourinho’s acrimonious departure in September 2007.
The 48-year-old’s Real Madrid side are currently seven points behind rivals Barcelona in La Liga and Mourinho is facing a similar power struggle at the Santiago Bernabeu as he did at Stamford Bridge.
Jose’s relationship with Real’s general director Jorge Valdano is deep-rooted, as the Argentinean once compared Mourinho’s brand of football as ‘shit on a stick’ and describing the then Chelsea manager as ‘vain’, ‘a control freak’ and a ‘cheat’. Things have not improved much since the pair have started working together in Madrid, which has led many to believe that Mourinho will leave the Spanish capital in the summer.
Mourinho is a much loved figure amongst the Stamford Bridge faithful for what he achieved there, so it’s hardly surprising that a fair chunk of the Chelsea support are craving the return of their Special One, but how likely is it to happen?
He maintains that he is still ‘in love’ with Chelsea and had previously suggested that he’d never manage a rival club to any of the teams he has managed in the past. Also, most of the outside influences that irked Mourinho during the latter stages of his Chelsea tenure are now gone, with his old enemy Arnesen set to depart at the end of the season, could the way be paved for his return?
However, Mourinho is not without his critics and after short successful stints at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan, the likes of Mick Dennis (Daily Express) have questioned his ability on a long term basis, whilst others argue that he is yet to prove that he can nurture young talent, which is important from a Chelsea perspective as they hold hight hopes for the likes of Josh McEachran. He is yet to prove these criticisms wrong, but that’s not to say that he won’t do.
We can only speculate, but what are your thoughts on the rumours?
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I don’t know whether I want him back to manage us or fear him going to one of the Manchester clubs. One thing you get with Mourinho is success. But that comes at a price literally. Although it’s not my money it can’t do the club any good in the long run. People will say that his football is to negative but again you have to ask yourself the question would you rather be like l’arse. Good to watch but nothing to show for it. Neither Abramovich nor us the fans would put up without a major trophy for 5/6 years.
But perhaps the reason I would like to see him back at the bridge is because I would hate him to manage one of the Manchester clubs. You could just see him winning trophy after trophy while we suffer. That would hurt all of us even the people that say no to his returning. Every time he wins something it means us missing out.
We know what we get with Mourinho, success and trophies a team that will not lose many but we will never get the score lines of 8-0 and alike again. I believe Mourinho would also win us the Champions league. Abramovich runs the club more like the top Italians or Spanish in that the managers only get given a couple of years to win things. In short if we want to win the big trophies and win them soon then Mourinho’s your man. If you want to build a team to last for years then look elsewhere.
Martin O’Neill? Please. Football would be far more negative than Mourhino without the trophies and Abramovich would never consider him. O’Neill likes to do things his way.
Well, Mourinho has proved that he can come in, make an immediate impact and bring quick success, so I agree in that sense he’s perfect.
However, people have questioned his long term ability as he seems to have many short stints at clubs. But he’ll have to settle down somewhere eventually, especially if he really is reluctant to manage any rivals of previous employers. At 48, I guess he has plenty of time to combat the long term criticism.
The other thing he has apparently had a weakness for is nurturing youth, with Sergio Canales being his current issue, but he’s still played a dozen games, in a team that boasts a wealth of attacking midfielders.
If he really did have a weakness at working with youth then a good assistant could always help counter that, perhaps Zola?
As for O’Neill…did not expect him to get so many votes. He’s in the betting, according to bookmakers, but there’s no way.
I think Jose is a really good manager and if he comes 2 Chelsea it aid b gr8 bt only 2 things stand in the way
1) Carlo is a gud manager and he is d kind who can
make us win. He is jus havin a. Bad spell bt he is a good manager and he made us win a double in d first season so…… Also all us fans who r rooting for kaka to cum to Chelsea and think Der is a possibility he will cum is cause kaka luves Carlo and if v gt Jose den I don’t think dat kaka wud really want to cum.
2) sometimes managers returns r gud lik dalglish for Liverpool . Mayb wen jose chums bak. Wil sart winnin trophis again.
I’d like to see Mourinho come back. Carlo has proved he hasn’t the nuts for this job.
Jose is d best, we nid him