Jose Mourinho is going through something extraordinary at the moment. No one expected Chelsea or their manager to be so vulnerable at this point of time, after winning the league last season. Whatever happened to the Blues that lost three matches the whole season last time out? Sure, a dip can’t be this big a shock as Chelsea set themselves impossibly high standards to follow, but a dip of this enormity came as a shock to everyone, the players and manager included.
The Portuguese cut a frustrated figure at the pre-match conference on Tuesday evening. When quizzed about the “third season syndrome” by BBC’s Ben Smith, the irked Mourinho asked the reporter to Google answers to stupid questions.
“Look, my third season – in Porto, I didn’t have a third season. My third season in Inter, I didn’t have a third season. My third season at Chelsea the first time, I won the FA Cup and the Carling Cup, and I played the Champions League semi-finals. My third season in Real Madrid, I won the Super Cup, I lost the cup [Copa del Rey] final, and I went to the Champions League semi-finals. These are my third seasons. So click Google, instead of making stupid questions, click Google and try to find,” said the former Real Madrid boss.
These comments don’t come as a shock from the outspoken manager, but the manner in which he snapped shows that things are heating up at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are known to not be patient with managers. They want results and they want them immediately. While many may criticize this approach, Liverpool fans will now be able to actually appreciate this method of thought. Four points from five league games, the worst start in 29 years, languishing in the 17th place are things that warrant a potential sack at the London club but the club hierarchy must realize that if there is one person who can turn all this around, it’s the man currently at helm.
Mourinho has to stay at the club, overturn this mess of a start and ensure Chelsea are back to their threatening selves. And he definitely deserves the chance to do the same. The Portuguese is capable of creating a dynasty at the Premier League club and that is what he should be aiming for. He can’t run away from this mess. Sure, even if he leaves by “mutual consent” in December, there won’t be a shortage of clubs that will want to lure him and he can start there and win trophies in the coming years. But it is now time for the 52-year-old to create a legacy which the club’s board should allow him to do.
It is not as if the manager has to work with a group of mediocre players. He has a fantastic squad, one that won two trophies last season. He has the key players and he has been reinforced with some signings (granted bar Pedro’s arrival, the rest were underwhelming). The players are obviously struggling right now, something Mourinho couldn’t have planned for in the pre-season. There is also talk of some dissatisfaction and cynicism with Mourinho’s disapproval and criticism. Some players are said to have lost some faith in the Special One. The manager’s sole focus right now has to be lifting the morale of the dressing room and making sure the players know that there is enough time to bring the season back on track.
If Chelsea beat Arsenal in the coming weekend, they will be on course to making a “comeback”. A positive result in the London derby can be a huge step in getting the season back on track and Mourinho must approach the tie with a different gameplan. Oscar’s anticipated availability after a knee injury will also come as welcome news for the manager. It will allow him to rest the underperforming Cesc Fàbregas and perhaps Oscar can be the player who is instrumental in turning Chelsea’s season around. There is enough time for Mourinho to effectively turn things around and it must start with the Arsenal game.
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