By Andrew Warshaw
December 18 – After the most staggering capitulation in the history of the Premier League, never has the phrase ‘The Special One’ sounded so hollow.
As Jose Mourinho exited Chelsea Thursday evening after the worst half-season of his managerial career, football pundits were left incredulous as to how a team with the same players who ran away with the title in May could implode so dramatically and become virtually unrecognisable as they plummeted to within one point of the relegation zone after losing nine of their first 16 league matches.
Whether or not Mourinho genuinely attempted to hide his identity by pulling his coat over face as he was sped away from Chelsea’s training ground after being sacked (some reports suggest it was a decoy), his swift departure after apparently attending a Christmas lunch said everything about how his pride was hurt. But also about how someone with a reputation for blaming everyone but himself had lost the dressing room so spectacularly.
Don’t just take my word for it. Chelsea’s technical director Michael Emenalo said there had been a “palpable discord between manager and players”.
The final straw surely came following Monday’s 2-1 defeat by surprise table toppers Leicester City when Mourinho said his work had been “betrayed” by his players. It was the most incendiary of accusations, the kind Mourinho may have got away with when his team were winning but not when they were in the throes of their worst ever start to a Premier League campaign.
No-one would deny that Chelsea’s expensive array of international stars – some might describe them as prima donnas – should have done more for the common cause, not least for the club’s fans. But to lay the blame for Chelsea’s humiliating implosion entirely on players who used to walk through brick walls for him but who have been under-performing so woefully was a stark illustration of Mourinho’s blind self-delusion verging on arrogance and conceit.
Many take the view that it all goes back to the very start of the season when Mourinho, much to the disgust of both the footballing and medical profession, lambasted first-team doctor Eva Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn in public for going on to the pitch, without his permission, to treat Eden Hazard. The Portuguese described the pair as “naive” and relieved them of first-team duties. Carneiro went on to leave Chelsea and has now brought a legal case against the club for constructive dismissal.
It is perhaps no co-incidence that ever since then, Hazard, the Premier League’s player of the year last season, has been prominent among those who have performed so poorly. No goals this season and just two assists from a midfielder who scored 21 times last season. As fall from graces go, that takes some beating.
Matters went from bad to worse for Chelsea when Mourinho caused a bombshell by substituting John Terry, his most trusted servant, at halftime during the 3-0 defeat against Manchester City.
For a combination of reasons, it was clear that respect for the manager suddenly drained away. The players showed no stomach for the fight and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, knowing he couldn’t fire a whole squad, instead targeted the man he had brought back for a second time – and sacked him a second time.
Many believe it was an accident waiting to happen. As one former international defender put it: “You can’t be the people’s mate one minute and their enemy the next.” Yet there is a strong body of opinion that believes Mourinho, given a new four-year contract only last summer, was dispensed with far too soon, especially with only a handful of coaches out there with the same credentials or success record.
Neither he nor Abramovich have ever been ones to accept failure but since the owner was not about to leave, there was only one option left. Ten managers in as many years says much for Chelsea’s lamentable lack of loyalty. But this was the cruellest cut of all, with Abramovich’s judgement coming under immediate scrutiny.
With the massively experienced and under-stated former Netherlands boss Guus Hiddink set to become Chelsea’s interim boss until the end of the season, an element of calm now seems bound to be restored.
The 69-year-old already had one spell at the club, winning the FA Cup in 2009. Long term, Chelsea have been linked with the likes of Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone but unless Hiddink can win the Champions League or Chelsea miraculously climb into the top four, whoever takes over will not be involved in Europe’s most prestigious and lucrative club competition next season.
Hardly the best legacy for the self-styled Special One to have left behind.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734941278labto1734941278ofdlr1734941278owedi1734941278sni@w1734941278ahsra1734941278w.wer1734941278dna1734941278