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?
[poll id=”26″]
Yes, Yes & Yes
BUT i think it wont be easy to get him back
there was a rift between mourinho and abramovic
abramoic will have to swallow his pride and get him back for the sake of chelsea
PLUS he’s adored by the chelsea fans
Never go back
you fool how many stints do you think ray wikins has had with the club? more than 4 times, caretaker manager twice and assistant manager twice.
my point is the door should always be open to legends. i.e kenny dalglish name still in the hearts of pool fans after all those years even though he managed newcastle, blackburn and celtic. u guys can learn from pool fans sometimes.
If only he will accept d request of coming back 2 chelsea cos we all loved him & we wnt him 2 come back bt dnt think so bcos of d dispute btw him & Roman bt he (jose) has 2 think abt d love “we” have 4 him.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Go support Arsenal! We are used to being 22 points ahead of them, not 6 BEHIND them! We are Chelsea not Bolton. Carlo reigned over our worst slump in 15 years, not Jose.
O right so because I’m not a Jose Disciple I should support someone else? Hmm great response!
My reasons for no jose:
1) Never go back- the guy did great things for chelsea and he’ll always be respected by me but that’s it. Leave what he did for us and be brave. Other options are there but he’s a safety choice ad we’d be going with our emotions not our heads.
2) Ranieri- the guy finished 2nd with some very good players and who knows what would have happened if he’d been given one more season. It’s funny that Cech, Lampard and Terry, were bought or made captain by Claudio and have been arguably our spine. They’re still here and Jose’s not. Jose made 2 signings (drogba and essien) who were already under the chelsea radar because of Ranieri. When you compare their buys (google it) Jose doesn’t actually have a good track history. His signings with Milan and Madrid have been of those he used to work with: Sneijder, Quaresma, and Carvalho or had fantastic world cups and were wanted by Europe’s elite: Ozil and Di Maria. He doesn’t have a good eye for players. And tends to take his best players to other clubs.
3) The youth- although Josh hasn’t had as many games as fans would have liked (reasons I can actually understand) Jose was criticised heavily for his lack of faith in our youngsters. They are getting games now. The likes of Sturridge doing so well on loan, surely has a future aswell as Bruma and PVA. The proudest day as a cfc fan was when I saw our youth in the CL – NEVER would that happen with Jose. With Milan he bought Queresma in exchange for a youth player Pele. Now from what I recall he’s not that good. So instead of bring through youth would rather buy what he knows.
4) Entertainment – I believe the freedom the players now have on the pitch is something that has been a pleasure to watch. Last season we scored the most goals in our history. The play and form of our team was nothing I had seen from the same players under Jose and made a refreshing change from 1-0 and 2-0 wins.
3 players proved this: Drogba, Malouda and A Cole.
Jose HATED Cole going past the half way line. It was common knowledge. His form suffered and we weren’t getting the best of him like Arsenal were. That changed after Jose left. I love the attacking style and use of our full backs.
Malouda had undoubtedly his best season last year because he was used correctly in the 433 and had a manager who believed him.
Drogba – well his goals and lack of diving incidents speak for themselves.
5) Carlo – the guy has been brilliant for our club. Had a better first season that Jose, won us our first double and brought in Luiz (who is going to be vital in the next 5 years) and Torres (patience needed).
Jose is like the BF who breaks up with his love to bed a string of beauties and then realise that actually he had everything to start.
The day he left I felt sick but partly because I knew it wasn’t all Roman’s doing. He’d threatened to leave the season before and has openly stated that.
Jose is a football whore. I don’t want us in 2013 in the same position looking for another manager because Jose’s fucked off to United.
I want my club to have stability. I don’t care if that means no trophies! The club is brilliant at sellotaping over cracks with success and personally I don’t want that. If roman turned round tomorrow and said books closed, there’s your team and youth deal with it, then so be it!
I want the club to take risks with their app. Someone who is unfashionable but will take chelsea into a new era.
The editor of this site convinced me Van Baston would be a great risk. Attacking football and not afraid to bench the oldies and bring through youth.
Hiring Jose proves the problem with a lot of Chelsea fans. Quick success and a safety choice.
As fans we were spoilt far to early. There is too much impatience within our ground which is sad! We weren’t always in this fortunate position!
So shoot me all you want for not wanting Jose but that’s because I put my Club first before a figurehead of our history (something that Liverpool fans would do).
Im sorry to say but your a fool, all your arguments are plain dumb.
ill tell u why.
1) never go back, so why are some supporters asking for hiddink, wouldnt that be going back.
2) ranieri never came close to winning any trophy with chelsea, not even a cup, vialli won cups, he has not won anything since he left chelsea, he got sacked from juventus and roma. hes free now if you want to take him back if carlo leaves.
3) youth, u didot chelsea did not have a youth setup when jose arrived, it was still in early stages and jose was a big part of setting that up.
4) have you forgotten joses first title winning season when they ended up with highest points total ever and playing brilliantly with likes of robben, duff etc.
5) how can u say he had a better first season than Jose, Jose took you to CL semis in first season and carlo got knocked out early in last 16 by jose so he could concentrate on domestic trophies.
Apologies for the spelling was doing it off a blackberry! – nightmare but I hope you get the gist!
also ranieri had 4 years to win nothing at chelsea, how many years were you going to give him before he won something and you were willing to let someone like mourinho slip away a the time??
its fans like you that give chelsea fans a bad name with your backwards mentality.
With Mourinho’s personality the clash with Abramovich is bound to happen, then deja vu! I don’t want that! I want stability at the club! So get a good Assistant Manager for Carlo and keep him here! Maybe Di Matteo? Zola? Dennis Wise? Gus Poyet, or Maldini? I know it’s not quite possible but please, get someone who can work with Carlo and instill some stability.
…and, Martin O’Neill, with his brand of long-pass football? Oh, come on!
I’m surprised about the amount of votes he’s getting. Thought Jose would easily be the runaway leader, with Guus and Ancelotti up there too.
mourinho and roman have had their differences but have stayed good friends apparently roman even bought him a bloody ferrari at some point! and with the combination of rumours such as an agreement between roman and carlo that he will leave in the summer and arnesen leaving aswell and the fact roman is spending money again and we all know how much mourinho loves to spend money and loves to proclaim his love to chelsea i think there is a high chance that he will be rejoining us
It’s looking increasingly likely, in my opinion.
arnesen is leaving cos his 5 year plan of developing world class youngsters and having them play in the first team has failed misrably.
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mourinho is……..winning…and in the summer will be an unemployed winner
RE: AJ
So me NOT wanting a PAST manager is backwards?
Riiiiiight! Ok 😀
Well it’s shame you try and have a debate with a fellow fan and because they don’t agree they call you names.
That’s really sad.
Well you best go along and make you’re welcome back jose tshirts.