Chelsea have confirmed reports that they’ve unexpectedly parted company with manager Jose Mourinho after a crisis meeting this evening. A brief statement on the Blues’ official website, read: “Chelsea Football Club and José Mourinho have agreed to part company today (Thursday) by mutual consent. Reports suggest that Mourinho quit a few days ago but Chelsea couldn’t get him to change his mind.
This would certainly explain Roman Abramovich’s happy demeanour during Tuesday’s Champions League game at Stamford Bridge. In all truthfulness, this parting could have happened on any night this year. The worst-kept secret in football has been the deterioration of the relationship between manager and owner.
The Portuguese coach departed Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night after texting five senior players to say he was leaving. His players were left in no doubt that the 1-1 draw against Rosenborg in the Champions League on Tuesday night was his last match in charge. Mourinho is understood to have sent text messages to five players at 6pm on Wednesday night and by midnight the entire first-team squad were aware that he had left.
Mourinho led the club to two Barclays Premier League titles after joining the club in June 2004 but their disastrous start to the new season had taken its toll on him. The Chelsea manager is set to report to the training ground at Cobham today to say goodbye to the players who won every domestic trophy during his time in England.
Sure he may be abrasive and if you are not with him, you are his enemy. He was good with mind games and fiercely supportive of his players if they were in a bad position. He had lots of money but ultimately it was down to him to plot and strategise and bring the players together into a cohesive unit which he did with much success. A three year reign saw him bring 2 EPL titles, 2 FA Cups and 1 League Cup to Stamford Bridge and possibly go down as one of the all-time Chelsea great. He made players that had raw potential in the likes of Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Joe Cole and made them into stars of today.
Before he departed for good, he said one final farewell to his players on Thursday morning and Drogba was in tears after Mourinho’s farewell words to him:
You are one of the best strikers in the world and you have made yourself into one of the best players,” Mourinho told him. I am very proud of you, Didi — and you should be proud of yourself. You have worked hard and you are a winner. Always remember you are a winner.
Mourinho then put his arms around the hitman and hugged him like a departing father. As he moved on, Drogba failed to keep himself together and broke down in tears. Most of the team was in a solemn mood. Their loyalty to Mourinho — unlike Chelsea’s — was never in question. To his players, he will always be Special.
Chelsea already missing key players in Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard will have a hard time this weekend as they face their title rivals, Manchester United without the Special One. Despite his ramblings and rantings, I kind of enjoyed it and the BPL has certainly lost a colorful character. Will Chelsea slip into oblivion following this and appointing a relative unknown in Avram Grant at that? Certainly his departure has shocked the whole entire world even if you are not a soccer fan.
