Following the Chelsea FC manager’s decision to leave certain members of his squad back in England for the Champions League game against FC Porto, concerns have reportedly been raised by Blues’ players about the Portuguese’s perceived ‘scapegoating’ of certain first team members
Chelsea FC manager Jos Mourinho rung the changes for the Blues’ Group G clash against Porto on Tuesday, opting to leave behind strikers Radamel Falcao and LoA?c R my, as well as Brazilian attacker Oscar.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Portuguese side, and to make matters worse, members of the first-team squad were reportedly shocked by Mourinho’s harsh decision. Captain John Terry was also left out of the starting line-up once again, and the Englishman’s decision to come out and warm down alone after the game in front of the Blues’ faithful is being perceived as some manner of symbolic protest.
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Reports in the English media indicate Chelsea FC players’ surprise at Mourinho’s decision
According to the Daily Telegraph and the Guardian, Mourinho’s decision to leave out Oscar and LoA?c R my has surprised some senior squad members at Chelsea FC. The article in the Guardian read:
“Concern is growing within the Chelsea dressing room at the perceived scapegoating of certain players by Jos Mourinho after the championsa desperately poor start to the season. The decision not to take Oscar and LoA?c R my to Porto in midweek and the continued absence of John Terry from the starting lineup are understood to have surprised senior squad members.”
The story in the Daily Telegraph was not too dissimilar: “The decisions over Oscar, Remy and Terry, coupled with the fact Ivanovic kept his place at right-back despite his poor performances and the growing belief that his focus has been affected by unresolved contract negotiations, sent shockwaves through the Blues squad.
Most of the stunned Chelsea players only found out that Oscar, Remy and Falcao were being left behind hours before they flew to Porto on Monday afternoon.”
The story does not bode well for Chelsea FC
The seemingly synchronised reporting of the story by the Daily Telegraph and the Guardian, and the agreement on specifics within the story should be of concern to those associated with Chelsea FC. There is little doubt that the reporters were briefed on this by someone inside the Blues’ camp, and that does not bode well for the future.
Mourinho has always stressed the importance of togetherness within a team, and the last thing he needs now is mutiny brewing within the Chelsea FC first-team squad — or even the perception that there may be one.
Although captain John Terry’s omission from the starting XI can easily be explained as a ‘tactical’ decision, the Englishman’s lonely warm down in front of the fans was ominous. The Blues are missing his organisational and leadership skills in defence, and it will be intriguing to see if Mourinho sees fit to put him back in the team for the visit of Southampton this Saturday.
Jos Mourinho has never faced a situation such as this in his time as manager, and is seemingly struggling to cope. Whether the players will retain faith in their manager and recover from this position remains to be seen.