Chelsea FC manager Jos Mourinho has revealed that the attitude and desire shown by new signing Pedro was key to bringing him to Stamford Bridge, whilst insisting that his team are ‘calm’ despite their poor start to the Premier League season.
After failing to win in their opening two league games for the first time since 1998, Chelsea FC face another formidable opponent on Sunday in Tony Pulis’ West Bromwich Albion team. With Blues manager Jos Mourinho yet to beat a Tony Pulis side, perhaps the lift in the mood around the club following the arrival of fresh faces can translate to a positive result on the pitch.
The Stamford Bridge outfit completed the signings of left-back Abdul Baba Rahman from FC Augsburg and Spain international Pedro Rodr guez from FC Barcelona following the Manchester City defeat, and Mourinho was full of praise for the latter as he waxed lyrical about the 28-year-old’s attitude and professionalism.
“I’m really happy with his approach” – Jos Mourinho
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of the West Brom game, Mourinho was happy to elaborate on why the Blues decided to make the decision to bring Pedro to Stamford Bridge at this relatively late stage in the transfer window.
“Everything started with the fact that finally we understood the player was ready to leave the club of his dreams,” the Portuguese manager is quoted as saying by the Chelsea FC official website. “The club of his heart, the club where he played since he was a kid and won absolutely everything. When Ia m told a player wants to leave Barcelona or Real Madrid, these giant clubs, there is always a question mark because I always ask myself why they want to leave.
Jose Mourinho has been discussing Pedroa s qualities… . http://t.co/kXUdwzMlEz #CFC pic.twitter.com/Jd82Xyss7T
a Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 21, 2015
“Normally there are lots of rumours and normally they are never true, but it was true. He has amazing respect and from the way he speaks (you can tell) he loves Iniesta, Messi, Neymar and these guys hea s played with for all these years, but this is a moment for him to enjoy a different life, a different step, a different challenge. Ita s a chance for him to leave his comfort zone and come to a new club, new country, new culture, so Ia m really happy with his approach.
“He wants to play every game. For many years he won everything playing with Messi, Iniesta, all these stars, but he wants more and Ia m really happy with that attitude. Pedro is a player we like a lot and we are happy to have him.”
Mourinho unhappy but calm following poor start to the season
The incumbent champions have begun the season looking like anything but, picking up a single point form their opening two games, and suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of title rivals Manchester City last weekend. Despite that, Mourinho insists he remains calm as he tries to get the Blues’ season back on track.
“We normally train very well but this week we trained better than ever,” Mourinho told his press conference on Friday. “Why? Because we are not happy. Ia m not happy with the results and the players are not happy with the results. We want to do better and there is only one way, which is to work well and better than ever, which we did this week.
“Do we have to improve? Obviously, always, but we are calm. Not happy but calm. We need to be unhappy because that feeling makes you work, but to be calm is important.”
The Portuguese will be hoping that that sense of calm will help his side overcome a very tricky hurdle on Sunday to register their first win of the season.
