The Special One is back and says he is determined to do even better this time around. Well, that is some challenge when you recall he captur...
The Special One is back and says he is determined to do even better this time around.
Well, that is some challenge when you recall he captured six trophies in three years in his first spell at Stamford Bridge.
How on earth will Jose Mourinho pull it off?
The answer is simple — by giving Chelsea a world-class spine to the team again.
During his first reign he had Petr Cech in goal, John Terry at centre-half, Frank Lampard in centre midfield and Didier Drogba as centre-forward.
Every one of them was a winner, every one of them a leader, every one of them a big game player.
Back-to-back Premier League titles, two League Cups, the FA Cup and Community Shield proved it.
Which is why the backbone of the team is the first thing he will restore.
For this current Chelsea side undoubtedly has flair but is lacking the famous fight and the unquenchable spirit forged during the early Mourinho years.
To make it happen he will have to do some trading — sell so he can buy.
First out the door could be £50million flop Fernando Torres — a makeweight in a deal to bring Napoli’s Edinson Cavani to SW6 would be the ideal solution to a problem that has plagued a string of Chelsea managers.
Mourinho is desperate to have a focal point to the Blues’ attack again and likes Cavani.
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| The New "Dream Team" |
But he would equally take Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski or maybe even Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney.
Lewandowski is Bayern Munich bound and United say Rooney is staying put. So all hope rests on Cavani.
Behind the front man he will allow licence for the trio of Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar to strut their stuff.
Talk that Mourinho is negative is nonsense.
The man has set record points totals in England and Spain and you do not do that by parking the bus.
That is why this new team will be like his first Chelsea side which swept everyone aside thanks to the swash-buckling talent of Arjen Robben, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Joe Cole.
Behind them, though, there will be no Claude Makelele — one of the greatest defensive midfielders ever and a key component of Chelsea’s early success.
But a new shape this time around would see two men with that responsibility. First Lampard, Chelsea’s record goalscorer playing a deeper Xabi Alonso-style role to help feed the front four ahead of him.
He can still romp forward himself to continue his amazing scoring heroics.
Sitting tight could be Luka Modric. Mourinho took him to Madrid where he was labelled the worst buy of 2012 in Spain.
Not in Mou’s eyes. The £30m-rated Croatian is one of only two players the Portugeezer would bring with him from the Bernabeu.
The other is... no, not Cristiano Ronaldo but Raphael Varane, the young French star who has just turned 20 but looks set to become one of the game’s best centre-backs.
He can also play defensive midfield or sweeper but first and foremost he is a defender who Mourinho loves and trusts. Madrid do not want to sell but if they did, the Special One would be first in the queue.
Mourinho says he is looking forward to working with the precocious but unpredictable talent of David Luiz.
But the Brazilian’s high-risk style of play will drive Jose wild, so he could soon be in trouble with his new boss.
Luiz will get his chance, though, and a certain starter is Chelsea’s captain, leader and legend Terry — Jose’s warrior from before. And he will be again now.
At full-back Mourinho knows he is well served by Ashley Cole and Cesar Azpilicueta.
They are quick and attacking and can give the likes of Lampard and Modric even more options to begin attacks from deep.
But most importantly they are defensively sound and uncompromising in the tackle.
Finally, there is another old favourite for Jose to turn to — keeper Cech.
His heroics last season helped Chelsea end a turbulent campaign with a top-three finish and the Europa League trophy.
In that sort of form — and with Mourinho back at the helm — the prizes will be a lot more glamorous next season.
Making sure Cech stays at the top will be Thibaut Courtois, the on-loan keeper brought back from Atletico Madrid to push the Czech all the way.
On the bench he would love to see former Inter Milan favourite Wesley Sneijder as back-up for the midfield trio.
Mourinho remains close to the Dutch star who has not settled at Galatasaray after a £7m January move.
Demba Ba and Romelu Lukaku would be the other strikers. Ramires could play right-back, the right side of midfield or defensive midfield while Luiz and Branislav Ivanovic would give him defensive cover.
And Chelsea fans cannot wait to see Jose’s new way forward.
Here is the Jose Dream Team
PETR CECH
A Jose old boy and one of the best goalkeepers in the world, if not THE best.
RAPHAEL VARANE
Mourinho would take promising Real centre-back to Chelsea in a shot.
JOHN TERRY
Sidelined much of last season but, if fit, will be back in heart of the defence.
ASHLEY COLE
Bought and loved by Jose — his quality and desire set the left-back apart.
CESAR AZPILICUETA
Mourinho likes attacking full-backs who can add pace and width.
LUKA MODRIC
Mourinho likes the Real player’s flair, calmness and ability to hold the ball.
FRANK LAMPARD
They regard each other as best in the business — Jose said Lamps must stay.
EDEN HAZARD
If he does not weave magic in right places he will be hooked — like Joe Cole.
OSCAR
Will get chance to shine but will be vulnerable if he cannot hack Mou’s work ethic.
JUAN MATA
Jose will love a player similar to Sneijder at Inter and Gudjohnsen in first Blues’ job.
EDINSON CAVANI
Napoli’s creator and finisher has great movement and ticks all the boxes.
Subs:
COURTOIS
Seen as competition and back-up for Blues’ No 1 Cech.
IVANOVIC
Can play centre or full-back — so ideal cover across whole backline.
LUIZ
If Brazil ace turns liability into reliability he will be in the team.
RAMIRES
Can cover any midfield spot with his huge versatility and energy.
BA
Proven goalscorer in the Premier League who can help turn games for Blues.
SNEIJDER
Option for No 10 spot, with Mata playing down either flank.
LUKAKU
Raw but also unplayable at times — the next Didier Drogba
Do you think Mourinho will succeed??
