It is tough to write about my club, have to be honest about it. But I am an optimistic and passionate Chelsea fan so I will keep on hoping anyway. Optimism, this was what every Chelsea fan took from the match against Norwich where the team looked refreshed and highly motivated to perform, exactly as Jose Mourinho claimed in his presser the previous day.
One of the noticeable changes was in the form of the Eden Hazard who looked back to his best cutting apart defenses and making those direct and forward runs with fluidity and precision. Although the game ended in a low scoring one nil in favor of the home side, the overall team moved with a sense of purpose which also emanates from the manager.
What I want to focus on is that, apart from the multiple solutions which Chelsea need to revive their season, Jose’s man management skills should take the center stage in his team’s revival. What we are going through as of this moment in the league is uncharted territory for both the fans and Jose himself. The Portuguese hasn’t stayed in any club for more than two years and in Chelsea he is trying something which he hasn’t done before, i.e. building a dynasty.
Football is so beautiful, but more cruel because situations can change anytime. The current Premier League table is the best example, where Leicester City is leading at the top of the table as opposed to them being at the bottom last season while, the Champions are nowhere to be seen in the top half of the table.
The thing about Jose is, he is a very extreme character. People either love him or despise him. I didn’t see anyone having a neutral or moderate perception about him. From the groups of people we have to especially look at the football players of the clubs he has managed in his career.
On one side, we have a certain someone named Zlatan Ibrahimovich, who said in his autobiography that he will die for Mourinho. Whereas if we look at his time at Real Madrid, he did not have the best of times where he fell out not only with the dressing room, but with the whole club hierarchy itself. This extremism in his character is one of the main reasons he does not stay at a particular club for more than two seasons.
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Playing under Jose Mourinho is a very tough proposition. His players have to maintain a certain degree of control over their play. He does not promote free flowing attacking football but establishes a more pragmatic approach where he demands defensive support from his attacking players, which is not seen in positive view in the current football scenario.
As Chelsea are enduring a horrid start to their title defense, Mourinho has come under massive criticism which is quite obvious. One of the main condemnation was Mourinho’s managing of his players. There was a debate that he has lost the dressing room as he was demanding too much from his players and in that process losing their confidence.
Now this is where I beg to differ. The end of last season was a perfect example of Jose as his pragmatic best. Yes, granted that some key members dropped off the pace after the first half of the season, but this is where the brilliance of the manager plays its part.
Chelsea were at their free flowing best till December last season, and the same players under the same manager were closing down games at one nil with the utmost proficiency. The team was tired, but there was no sign of players not buying into his philosophy.
So, even if we are in the second half of the table, I still don’t believe that a disbelief in Mourinho’s philosophy is the reason for this downfall.
Changes had to be made and I think the game against Norwich was the perfect example of Mourinho’s man management skills. Eden Hazard’s form was a major reason of concern as he has been a shadow of the player who dominated the league last season.
Against Norwich, Jose deployed him in a number 10 position where the Belgian was getting more of the ball and was also relieved of his defensive duties. The result was absolutely positive as Hazard was back to his best cutting apart the solid Norwich backline.
“I don’t have a problem with him. We hope we can win a lot of trophies together.“-Eden Hazard
After the game, Hazard also came up with positive comments regarding his relationship with Jose, where he claimed that he had a talk with the manager on how to up his game. This is where Jose as a manager is one of the best in the business.
With Hazard and other key players finding their feet, it is about time Chelsea go on a winning run and place themselves in familiar territory, which is in the top four in the table.+
Next: CFC can still finish Top 4
To revive the season, apart from the necessary January transfers, Mourinho’s man management skills have to be at it’s best so that he can keep the team constantly motivated and united. Mourinho is still the man who can uplift Chelsea and take them into a successful future.
To the pundits and the doubters, keep some faith!