Mourinho: Chelsea cash power down to me
tribalfooball.com - September 29, 2006
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has declared the club's financial strength is down to no small way to his coaching ability and marketable image.
In two full seasons he has won a League Cup and two Premiership titles, ending Chelsea's 50-year wait for the championship, and has no doubt he provides value for his ?5m-a-year contract.
"There are managers who, at first sight, earn little but in reality earn too much because they don't produce," he said. "Call me vain, but I produce because there are titles and, in conjunction with them, merchandising in an incomparably superior proportion to what existed before I came here. The seats in the stadium are the most expensive in English football."
In a wide-ranging interview with Maxima, Mourinho revealed he gives 40 per cent of his image rights to the club.
"The club receives 40% of everything I do," Mourinho, whose total annual earnings are estimated at ?7.5m. "For clubs to pay me and the players well, they have to generate an income. That's why I and the players who, like me, have publicity contracts, make an enormous contribution so that the club can pay us [what] it does."
He knows he increased that pressure by saying he was special when he succeeded Claudio Ranieri at Chelsea. "[I think] these 'arrogant' initiatives of mine are risky but, at the same time, they are motivating because they create a state of mind which forces me to want more," he said.
Chelsea doesn't need Abramovich cash - Mourinho
tribalfooball.com - September 29, 2006
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho insists the club is almost self-sufficient and doesn't need to rely on Roman Abramovich's open chequebook.
In an interview with Maxima, Mourinho says: "If we took away two or three multimillion-pound signings from the budget, the club would run itself.
"Roman Abramovich and I are not personal friends in the proper sense, though we have an excellent relationship.
"I work focusing on the club's fans, and I work with the maximum passion whether I earn a pittance or millions. I work for the pleasure of working and the pleasure of winning."
Chelsea boss Mourinho wants Porto's Anderson
tribalfooball.com - October 02, 2006
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho wants to sign Porto whiz Anderson.
The 18 year-old attacking midfielder has been watched by Chelsea football chief Frank Arnesen in recent weeks.
The Sunday Express says Mourinho rates Anderson highly and wants to bring the Brazilian to London ahead of European rivals Barcelona.
Makelele: Chelsea must step up game
tribalfooball.com - October 01, 2006
Claude Makelele is urging his Chelsea teammates to step up their game after Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa.
Makelele said: "Chelsea need to keep winning and to work better in our new system and with our new players.
"I think we need every player. We need them all playing good football, winning and being happy. Winning comes first, then comes the quality and the good football.
"Every team wants to beat Chelsea. Every time Chelsea lose everybody is happy. It is more difficult on the pitch and more difficult outside.
"There's a lot of pressure. But this can be good. It is good for us players to have pressure and to know it is not going to be easy. It helps us to fight for every single ball when we're on the pitch."
Spurs eyeing £10 million bid for Chelsea's Cole
tribalfooball.com - October 01, 2006
Tottenham are lining up an ambitious £10 million bid for Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole.
The Daily Express says Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has never guaranteed any player a regular starting role, preferring to rotate his squad - and Martin Jol is hoping to use this to his advantage in January.
The Spurs chief has still to solve his team's problem on the left side of midfield, with Reto Ziegler, Teemo Tainio and Edgar Davids being given chances but failing to impress in that position.
Cole has made himself first-choice for England on the left of midfield and had a fine World Cup, scoring a stunning goal against Sweden.
So Jol knows a bid in the region of ?10million will be needed to get his number-one target.
Jose will not sell a player he think highly of
Ferreira determined to win over Chelsea boss Mourinho
tribalfooball.com - October 06, 2006
Chelsea fullback Paulo Ferreira is determined to win back his place.
Ferreira began the season at right-back but lost his place after the 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough and his only other start came in the 2-0 win over Fulham when he played in the centre of defence alongside Ricardo Carvalho after captain John Terry was sidelined with a back problem.
Despite the extra competition for places, Ferreira, 27, is aiming to play as many games as he can.
Ferreira said: "Sometimes the manager has to make changes to improve the team depending on the kind of game it is.
"So I just have to keep working. With the squad and the quality we have, you have to work very well all the time.
"The season is very long and everyone will play, and for me, of course I'd love to play in every game.
"But I know this is very difficult. When you have three big games in a week there is only a short amount of time to recover so the manager has to change the team."
Portsmouth boss: Johnson best fullback in country
tribalfooball.com - October 09, 2006
Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp is convinced on-loan Chelsea fullback Glen Johnson can be an England regular.
Redknapp said: "Glen will be an England regular for the next 10 years - and if he isn't then there is something wrong.
"He has all the attributes you need to be a world-class player. He is a great athlete and tackler, quick and reads the game really well.
"I knew from when I first saw him at West Ham as a kid he would be a quality player.
"There is not a better right back in the country."
Expected of chelsea player
World Class
Eidur Gudjohnsen has described Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho as "a father figure" and claims his old manager is misunderstood in England ahead of his return to Stamford Bridge with Barcelona.
Gudjohnsen moved to Catalonia in the summer from the Premiership champions and will return to west London for the first time when the teams meet in the Champions League next week.
The 28-year-old forward admits life is very different for him at Barcelona than it was at Chelsea but insists he is happy he made the switch.
"I had a chat with Mourinho and we realised that the best thing for me was to have a change of scene," he told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet.
"We parted as friends and I do not regret signing for Barcelona - a marvellous city and a fantastic team."
The Iceland striker admits, however, that the two coaching regimes he has encountered could not be more different.
Barca coach Frank Rijkaard is "tranquil and sensible and does not speak more than necessary", claims Gudjohnsen, whereas Mourinho "shouts all the time, but is a father figure, and the image that the media portrays of him is not always the true one".
The Ukraine forward has scored just once for the Blues since the Community Shield, in the 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough back in August, and so far has looked a shadow of the player who prompted big-spending Chelsea to smash their transfer record when completing a £30million-plus deal in the summer.
De Michelis, described as the 'scientific co-ordinator' of the Milan Lab, insists he is happy to help the striker find his feet in his new environment and told The Sun: "I saw him less than two weeks ago. I said I could provide a programme to help him if it is possible.
"He told me 'that would be great'. A champion like Andriy can only be destroyed, not created as he was already a great player before he came to England."
De Michelis believes the change of environment is a key reason behind Shevchenko's slow start.
"How many changes has he faced with the move to London? He needs time and support, otherwise a player becomes introverted, even scared.
"If they start to work with fear inside, it becomes a disaster."
QPR boss keen to hang onto Chelsea's Smith
tribalfooball.com - October 14, 2006
QPR boss John Gregory is already thinking about extending the loan of Chelsea midfielder Jimmy Smith.
Smith scored Rangers' opener - the first senior goal of his career - and gave an energetic display alongside Marc Bircham for yesterday's 3-3 draw with Norwich.
Gregory said: "Jimmy is here for one month, but we have the option of extending that, which is something we will try to do.
"I can't see him getting into the Chelsea team ahead of Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien or Claude Makelele.
"He looked as though he didn't have anything left during the last 20 minutes, but that is because he had put so much into the first 70."
Ballack: Chelsea doesn't buy success
tribalfooball.com - October 14, 2006
Michael Ballack has hit out at claims Chelsea have simply bought their success.
"Chelsea are not the only team buying players. Sometimes they make bigger purchases, and that stands out - but other teams buy big as well," he pointed out.
"Real Madrid, Italian teams, German teams - they all buy players. But if you are not successful then you are just a buyer of players.
"Not Chelsea. You don't just pick any players; you have to pick the right players to fit together and get a good mood in the team.
"Chelsea is one of those teams that doesn't have big words about success; they are more laid-back and just let the success speak for itself.
"That's why we are not going to say big things about the Champions League right now."