A look at the reasons behind Mourinho’s troubles at Chelsea and the approach the club should take to secure their long term goals.
Jose Mourinho has had his ups and downs throughout his career. When there have been times where things have looked shaky, he has always been the “The Special One” to bring a team back from the brink. However, the current performance of Chelsea in the Premier League has cast doubt over his “Speciality” as Chelsea coach. Many within the Chelsea camp are trying to work out what has gone wrong since they steamed their way to 2 cups last season. Even the bookies from Sportsbet’s EPL betting are struggling to determine the odds of the team each week and their outcome for the season. The fans still remain loyal, but somewhat frustrated as many are still scratching their heads wondering how the season can be salvaged.
Should the blame be cast on the Chelsea board?
The Chelsea board is one that has always set their expectations high. It wouldn’t be a surprise to hear that the team felt under pressure, which has impacted their performance on the pitch. It is likely that the Chelsea board will need to write-off this season and keep Mourinho for the next and help him develop a squad that will perform as expected. With Mourinho in charge, they can at least expect to have some continuity to revamp their campaign for a new title bid. Mourinho being rejected by Abramovich won’t do the club any favours and will likely do more harm than good. He is the best coach that the club has ever had. Chelsea have exhausted their use of world class coaches at the club. And although there were intermittent signs of success during Mourinho’s departure, it isn’t the way a successful football club should be run.
Should the blame be cast on the players?
Frustration is at boiling point among the Chelsea players. BBC Sport reported Cesc Fabregas’ anger over the team’s performance over the season and struggles to think along with other members of the squad what is going wrong. Part of the problem has been the team’s inability to hit the target when it comes to strikes on goal. Even though the team feels like they are playing well, at the end of the game it is the team that scores the most and concedes the least goals that wins matches.
Regrettable decisions?
Probably the biggest decision that is haunting Jose right now is the performance of Radamel Falcao. The Colombian striker has endured poor form at Chelsea and has made just one start for the club since his loan from Monaco. Nick Miller from ESPN FC reported that Falcao was a gamble for Mourinho. The Special One’s confidence believed that he was still a viable Premier League striker, however the form that Falcao has produced at the club has been so costly to the club that they now find themselves three points away from the relegation zone and have now lost seven games this season. It seems like the glimmer of magic that Falcao may have once had has faded and reports are circulating that he will be leaving Chelsea in January.
Loss of confidence from the club
The Chelsea management are known to lose confidence quickly. They are caught in a catch 22 situation at the moment where under Mourinho’s reign, they have tasted consecutive glory and experienced failure. Rumours have been popping up that the club has been seeking out the services of Carlo Ancelotti again as a replacement for Mourinho. However, the club has released a statement offering their full support for Jose as a manager and his ability to develop a squad that is capable of returning to their winning form.
It’s not over until it’s over!
Although the team won’t be able to win the league this season, they can realign their goals to return to form and to ensure that they stay out of the relegation zone. Jose isn’t a magician, but he is a commander-in-chief that can orchestrate the success of a football club. He has done this several times with Chelsea in the past. Now is a time for patience and rebuilding for the squad to return to form. He is Chelsea’s special one.
