JOSE MOURINHO insists that Chelseas success is all down to
one man . . . himself. The Special One reckons the Blues were
nothing before he took charge three years ago and warns they could
fall apart without his leadership. And owner Roman Abramovich is
left under no illusion about what he stands to lose if Mourinho
leaves or is sacked in the summer.
Speaking about the team he inherited in 2004, Mourinho says players
like Frank Lampard and John Terry only became world-class through
his guidance. The Blues boss said: Who were Lampard, Terry, Drogba
two years ago? They were certainly not world stars. And in this
moment who are they? They are like Shevchenko or Ballack.
Red Roms millions have enabled Mourinho to have an unrivalled pick
in the transfer market. But the Portuguese chief insists the likes
of £30.8million summer signing Andriy Shevchenko and German
midfield star Michael Ballack would not have moved to Stamford
Bridge unless he had already created a special team.
Mourinhos ego climbs to new heights as his secret thoughts are
unveiled in a thesis written by biographer Luis Lourenco in
Portugal. He added: People say I modified my transfer strategy
because I bought Shevchenko and Ballack. I did not modify my
transfer strategy. I bought stars for the environment of stars. I
would never have bought Shevchenko and Ballack for a team without
stars, for a team that had won nothing, for a team of players
without titles, for a team that would be built around those two
figures and 20 Joe Nobodies.
Chelsea entertain Tottenham today, with Mourinho aiming to make
history by capturing his third straight Premiership title as well
as the Quadruple. But he has no doubts what would happen if he ever
deserted his Blues troops. Despite insisting publicly he will see
out the rest of his contract to 2010, Mourinho has increasingly
become a marginalised figure at Stamford Bridge and is no longer on
speaking terms with Abramovich. The Russian supremo wants to bring
in Guus Hiddink as general manager in the summer.
Mourinho is still reeling from his sides 2-1 Premiership defeat at
Spurs last November. He said: We had a goal by Drogba disallowed
which would have made it 2-0, we had the sending-off of Terry, but
its best not to talk about that because I might get another
fine.
