Chelsea elected to sack Jose Mourinho after “palpable discord between manager and players” left the club “in trouble”, technical director Michael Emenalo revealed on Thursday.
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“I find it irresponsible from a players” point of view, especially when they come out after the game and say “We’ve done that for the manager'”. It’s very easy to make that kind of inference but it’s not one that the club accepts.
Managers’ boss Richard Bevan admitted he was caught cold by Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea exit.
Those fans will now be questioning whether “player power” has cost them the services of a manager who, despite his bad time this season, will be a candidate for any of the top jobs that become available in football’s revolving door.
He said: “Jose is a superb coach but the results and position in the league are catastrophic and unbecoming the reputation of a club like Chelsea”.
The final match of Mourinho’s second spell as Chelsea boss ultimately proved Monday’s 2-1 Premier League loss at surprise table-toppers Leicester.
“We make no mistake about it, Chelsea Football Club are one of the biggest clubs in the world is one point above relegation in the English Premier League, and that’s not good enough”.
I don’t think anyone, be it a fan or an outsider thought that Chelsea were going to be sitting just above the relegation zone at any time this season, let alone Christmas.
They should be used to it. After all, this is the club that sacked Italian Roberto Di Matteo a few months after he delivered Champions League glory in 2012 and got rid of Carlo Ancelotti a year after he won the 2010 Premier League and FA Cup double. If I’m being realistic that won’t happen but one can dream, can’t they? He was popular at Stamford Bridge and apparently wishes to return to England.
Mourinho announces that first team doctor Eva Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn will not be on the bench after describing them as naive after an incident against Swansea.
“The club’s focus is now on ensuring our talented squad reaches its potential”.
Former Holland midfielder Bolo Zenden, who has worked under Hiddink in the past, backed the veteran Dutchman to raise spirits quickly if called into action at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho was relieved of his duties by owner Roman Abramovich on Thursday and Redknapp feels it is a decision that will be met with optimism by the playing group.
Yet the defeats have piled up, leading players Diego Costa and Eden Hazard have at times looked distracted and there has been talk of dressing room unrest at the club.
Mr Donaldson added: “I think many supporters like myself will be deeply disappointed by this”.
“You’re not a big club if you don’t have contingency plans for situations like this”, Emenalo said.
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Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino said there was no doubt Mourinho had run out of answers to the team’s problems.
