Does Emenalo really represent a problem for Mourinho?
It’s often said that Mourinho wants, or demands, total autonomy wherever he is and many believe that the presence of figures like Avram Grant and Frank Arnesen caused a fallout the last time the Portuguese manager was in charge at Chelsea.
Emenalo currently oversees the scouting network, youth development and recruitment at the club which is unlikely to change according to the Mirror‘s report and Ron Gourlay is also said to have Roman Abramovich’s full backing (god only knows why). The structure itself isn’t dissimilar to a lot of European clubs and Chelsea have worked towards their goals despite the revolving door policy which has seen a host of names come and go.
However, a compromise is likely to be made if Mourinho really is the first choice for the hot seat and I assume he is as Jurgen Klopp looks unlikely to depart Borussia Dortmund as things stand and whilst Manuel Pellegrini’s attacking style will appeal to Abramovich, he probably won’t be considered ahead of Mourinho and the club know that they can build a few bridges, that were burnt when Rafael Benitez was hired, by bringing the Real Madrid coach back to West London.
But that’s assuming Mourinho is making these demands, it all sounds like guesswork and assumption on behalf of the press to me. The situation has become one of farce as the media, as well as the fans, are talking about another club’s manager as if he is our own and despite what you may think of Real Madrid, was it right of Mourinho to so publicly announce that he will be leaving the Santiago Bernabeu and issue a ‘come-and-get-me’ plea?
By going out on a limb like that Mourinho either has something sign or is desperate to lobby his name in connection with the job as he spoke of his love of England, where he is loved by that one club in particular. If at least one of those things is true then I doubt Emenalo is going to be much of a problem. Most of the things Emenalo does are unlikely to be of Mourinho’s concern and I believe he, or whoever the next manager is, won’t have a problem as long as a third-party isn’t telling him what to do when it comes to preparing the first team.