Jose Mourinho – The Special Career II

The first reign of Jose Mourinho at Chelsea was a successful, but not very long and in the end an unhappy relationship between him and Roman Abramovich. The Champions League was the only major title that Mourinho couldn’t win, and at the same time it is the most important title for both Mourinho and Abramovoich. So it’s unfinished business for the Special One at the Bridge from his first reign, which was a roller coaster ride, from his two magnificent wins of the Premier League to a sad departure after three incredible years, which made him a living legend at Chelsea.
The Special One started his second reign at Chelsea last week, a new chapter in his – special career.
This is part two of Jose Mourinho – The Special Career, for part one: http://chelseafc360.com/2013/07/09/jose-mourinho-the-special-career-i/

Chelsea, from Porto to hero of the Bridge

2004-05

Mourinho signed a three-year contract and he was unveiled on the 2nd of June 2004. On his arrival in London, at his first press conference, Mourinho described himself as ‘The Special One’, a famous moniker, which became popular among the media and fans.
“Please don’t call me arrogant, but I’m European champion and I think I’m a special one.”
The Special One began at Chelsea with the appointment of his new assistant Steven Clark, a former Chelsea player and now manager of WBA, and he took some of his assistants from Porto with him to Chelsea, including fitness coach Rui Faria and chef scout Andre Villas-Boas.
Roman Abramovich handed Mourinho nearly £100m for new transfers, and he brought in central-midfielders Tiago and Scott Parker (both each about £10m), defenders Ricardo Carvalho (£20m) and Paulo Ferreira (£13.2m) from his last club Porto, striker Mateja Kezman (£5.3m) and Didier Drogba for £24m. Winger Arjen Robben (£12m) and goalkeeper Petr Cech (£7m) also joined in summer 2004, but their transfers where already confirmed earlier that year.
“We have top players, I’m sorry, I’m a bit arrogant, we have a top manager.”
The 2004-05 Premier League title (the first since 1954-55) was clinched in a brilliant way away at Bolton Wanderers (2-0) thanks to two goals by Lampard. Chelsea won the highest number of points in a season (95), won 29 games, lost one game, conceded only 15 goals in 38 games, 25 clean sheets and Cech’s 1025 minutes without conceding a goal are some of the impressive numbers from then.
The double was completed by the League Cup against Liverpool (3-2), which was the first title Mourinho won at Chelsea, by goals from Drogba, Kezman and an own goal by Gerrard. Mourinho celebrated by putting his finger to his mouth (‘the shh’) in the direction of Liverpool fans. Lampard repeated the same celebration at Anfield the next season.

In the Champions League, Chelsea easily advanced to the knockout stage. The clash against Barcelona in the round of sixteen was very controversial and the beginning of a hate relationship between Mourinho and Barcelona/UEFA. The first leg was lost 2-1 away in Barcelona, but Mourinho accused referee Anders Frisk for inviting Barca coach Frank Rijkaard into his room at half-time and for giving Drogba a red card. Anders Frisk announced his retirement short after this game.
“My history as a manager cannot be compared with Frank Rijkaard’s history. He has zero trophies and I have a lot of them.”

 The return leg marked one of the most memorable matches under Mourinho. An early three-goal lead by the Blues was followed by two Ronaldinho goals for Barca. A Terry header decided the game in the 75th minute.
The semifinal of the Champions League against Liverpool was also surrounded by controversy and conspiracy. The first leg at the Bridge ended in a goalless tie, the game at Anfield 1-0 in Liverpool’s favour, but it was a ghost goal from Luis Garcia, which ‘apparently’ crossed the line, that put Liverpool in the final in Istanbul.
Mourinho changed his 4-4-2 from Porto to a 4-3-3 to create more dominance in the midfield and for stability in the defence. There were three players in the middle, one more compared to those teams who played with a 4-4-2 (respectively 4-2-2-2). Mourinho continued his philosophy of game with high-intensity that made a game of numerical advantage possible.
Makelele was the most defensive midfielder at the 4-3-3 with an asymmetrical triangular-midfield shape. He had the role of winning balls, protect the defence/ball and pick up the right player for passes. Tiago (and Essien a year later) also had to protect the defence, but he joined in offensive plays too. Lampard was the most attacking-minded midfielder with a lot of freedom and space, because of the two more defensive midfielders. Lampard also had the job to shoot and score from his position.
Gallas, a natural centre back, played as a left back to defend against the opponent’s winger. Ferreira, on the other side, was more attacking minded than Gallas, but also he played more defensive than he did in Porto. Robben, Duff and Joe Cole were all very flexible on the wings and also changed position in the game to open space for Drogba and Lampard. High passes and crosses were often played to a physical strong Didier Drogba, who could also take on 2 defenders at a time.
However, a system with two strikers was sometimes used too, because Drogba linked up very well with Gudjohnson, who had a more withdrawn role.
2005-06
Tiago, who played regularly, left for Olympique Lyon, from where the bison, Michael Essien joined for £24.4m after a three months transfer saga. Big-flop Shaun Wright-Phillips was also bought for £21m that year from Manchester City to strengthen the wings. Asier Del Horno (£8m) and Lassana Diarra (£1m) were the other two notable additions to the club.
And with Hernan Crespo, who returned from a loan spell at AC Milan, Mourinho had an extra option beside Drogba and Gudjohnson up front, while Kezman left after a rather poor season with only 4 goals in the Premier League.
Mourinho won another Premier League title and a Community Shield (2-1 versus Arsenal) in 2005-06. Chelsea scored the same amount of goals (72) as 2004-05, but conceded 7 more goals and won 4 points less, meaning 22 conceded goals and 91 points, which is still very impressive. The higher number of conceded could be explained by the more attractive and attacking way Chelsea played. The season in the league was highlighted by a 4-1 away win at Anfield and the 3-0 at the Bridge against Manchester United to wrap up the second consecutive PL title.
Barcelona was the opponent in the last sixteen in the Champions League again in 2006, but this time, Barcelona advanced to the quarterfinal (and then to win the trophy) after winning 2-1 at the Bridge and a 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou.
The basic principles in Mouriho’s Chelsea stayed. 4-3-3 was still the preferred formation, whereat a 4-4-2 was rarely also used. Michael Essien readopted the role the departed Tiago had, and apart from that, no big changes were really made.
“If Roman Abramovich helped me out in training we would be bottom of the league and if I had to work in his world of big business, we would be bankrupt!”
2006-07
Many things changed ahead of the 2006-07 season. Rumours said that Mourinho wanted to leave club, due to a power struggle between him and sporting director Frank Arnesen and Abramovich’s advisor Piet de Visser, who were very close friends with Abramovich. He himself claimed that he wanted to stay, and then he also said that he achieve something no team in England has done before, to complete the quadruple by winning all four available trophies in one season.
Michael Ballack was signed on a free transfer after his contract expired at Bayern München. William Gallas left for part of an exchange for Arsenal’s Ashley Cole. John Obi Mikel (£4m to Lyn Oslo and £12m to Manchester United because he already had an agreement with United) and Salomon Kalou (Feyenoord, £9m) also joined in 2006. Several key players left Chelsea, including Damien Duff (Newcastle United), Hernan Crespo (Inter) and Eidur Gudjohnsen (FC Barcelona).
Mourinho also asked the board to sign Samuel Eto’o, but instead the Chelsea board went for Andriy Shevchenko. The signing of the Ukrainian striker for £30.8m from AC Milan showed signs of conflicts between Mourinho and Abramovich, because of the interference from the Russian in the transfers. Shevchenko was often dropped by Mourinho, who preferred to use Drogba alone up front, which often left Abramovich frustrated.
Chelsea could win both the FA Cup and the League Cup that season, but the dream of the quadruple was ended when Chelsea was eliminated in the Champions League at Anfield after a penalty shoot-out (4-1, after 1-1 on aggregate). Mourinho couldn’t repeat the win of the Premier League for a third time as Manchester United won it by 89 points, Chelsea reached 83 points back then.

2007-08 
Mourinho didn’t spend that much in the 2007-08 summer transfer window compared to the others before.  Florent Malouda (Olympique Lyon, £15m), Belletti (FC Barcelona, £4m) and Claudio Pizarro (Bayern München, free) are probably the only notable transfers that were made. Arjen Robben moved on to Real Madrid for a record selling-fee of £24m.
The start into the new season wasn’t great, but Mourinho’s departure was still unexpected after having a successful time in London. A disappointing 1-1 home draw against Rosenborg in the Champions League was his final game in charge for Chelsea in the period of 2004-07. He left by mutual consent on 20th of September, and it was a mix of anger and sadness that could describe his departure from my view.
The Special One won two Premier League titles, two League Cups and one FA Cup at Chelsea. His stats at the Bridge are impressive; he won 85, drew 25 and lost only 10 games in the Premier League, means 2.33 points per game.
Jose Mourinho took a break of 9 months before he returned in football by an appointment in Italy, at Inter.
 “Pressure of what? Pressure is millions of people in the world, parents with no money to buy food for their children. That’s pressure. Not in football.”
 … Part III
Jonny (@jonny9fan)
(here is a very nice video of Chelsea in 2004-07, but it’s quite long http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AW2-SbCvKw)