Chelsea captain John Terry said Jose Mourinho’s sacking was not caused by a mutiny in the dressing room and denied that any players had deliberately performed badly in order to hasten the departure of Chelsea’s most successful coach.
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English football champions Chelsea on Saturday confirmed the appointment of Dutchman Guus Hiddink as their head coach until the end of the season, replacing Jose Mourinho.
When Hazard limped off in Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat by Leicester on Monday (Tuesday NZ time), Mourinho’s last game in charge, some commentators wondered if he was really injured.
And Terry believes that with performances like this, the fans will be back on side, but understands their current frustrations.
Supporters of the Premier League champions expressed their discontent with the decision to rid Jose Mourinho of his duties during the game, singing the Special One’s name throughout. “But rightly so they are disappointed and so are we, we don’t want to be where we are”.
“You get close to the people you work with, and it’s sad when that changes, but we had an important game two days after and I had a responsibility to the fans and the club”.
Chelsea players celebrate during their win over Sunderland on Saturday at Stamford Bridge. Holland said the players had competed well, especially in the first half, on Saturday when goals from Branislav Ivanovic (5 min), Pedro (13) and Oscar, from the penlty spot (50) underlined their supremacy before Fabio Borini clawed one back for the visitors in the 53rd minute.
Each Chelsea goal – from Branislav Ivanovic, Pedro and a penalty by Oscar – was met with chants of “Jose Mourinho, Jose Mourinho”.
Bottom club Aston Villa claimed a point in a 1-1 draw at Newcastle United thanks to a fine Jordan Ayew goals but remain in deep trouble – 10 points adrift of the safety zone.
“I am excited to return to Stamford Bridge”, he told the club’s official website.
Mourinho spent the day watching Middlesbrough, coached by Aitor Karanka, his assistant at Real Madrid, playing at Brighton and Hove Albion in the second-tier Championship while 75km away his former charges finally produced a display worthy of champions, having lost nine of their first 16 league matches.
“Each time represents for him the end of a cycle, and the opportunity to start a new one”.
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He said the omens had looked bad ever since Mourinho publicly criticised team doctor Eva Carneiro after their opening game of the season against Swansea City.
