The ‘Special One’ gives his opinion on the squad for the upcoming season.
Returning Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has sent a warning to the squad by stating all players will have to earn their place in the starting XI – even club captain John Terry.
The Portuguese boss says he will be doing no favours to players such as Terry, Frank Lampard and Petr Cech, who were all stalwarts under the 50-year-old during the coach’s last tenure at Stamford Bridge between 2004 and 2007.
“John is not safe and he knows he’s not safe. The only thing he knows is safe is our friendship,” Mourinho was quoted on ESPN.
“Professionally, no one is safe. We spoke about it and he understands. As we say in Portugal, ‘friends are friends, but business is business’.”
It is a clear message to the Blues players that every spot in the team will have to be earned and if performance drops, there is a willing candidate in every position to step in.
Mourinho was also clear that this time around at Stamford Bridge – with the coach having won the treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League with Inter Milan and La Liga and the Copa Del Rey with Real Madrid since 2007 – the former FC Porto boss will be the ‘Godfather’ of English football.
“I’m just going to be the Godfather,” added the manager.
“The big change in the Premier League in relation to us managers is that our boss isn’t there any more.
“[Sir Alex] was the guy everyone respected, admired and looked up to as the Dad of every manager in the Premier League, but he’s gone and for me that’s the change.
“Now I’m one of the guys with more time in football, the only one who’s won the Champions League, all the English competitions.”
There is certainly a high expectation now Mourinho is back coaching in England and with the top three sides from last year’s Premier League all changing their managers, it’s set to be a thrilling campaign in 2013/14.
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