Jose Mourinho is like a carton of milk — once past expiration, it is no good to anyone. The magic in the Special One’s “us-against-them” approach quickly wore off in 2015/16 as the Chelsea dressing room dissipated into warring factions and clash of egos. The Portuguese has long been hailed as the premier man manager in the world, but that gift left him when he needed it the most.
The whistles and jeers certain players received during Chelsea’s 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge against Sunderland told the story. Fans felt betrayed by three in particular: Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard. Arguably the most influential trio in Chelsea's 2014/15 title win, these stars were rumored to be the architects behind the scenes of an all-out mutiny.
A predictable denial from Fabregas soon followed, yet the continued silence from the other pair is deafening. Costa allegedly showered and left the stadium shortly after the game finished at 5 p.m., and the speculation linking him with a January departure won’t go away.
Chelsea supporters were rightfully aggrieved that the owner sided with the players, many of whom are recent acquisitions, over the most successful manager in the club’s history. Only weeks ago Jose told the press that it would be a huge mistake to sack him because they would be back to square one in a constant state of flux. Here we are again.
The the origin of the rift can be traced to his first season back in England, giving the likes of Eden Hazard and Oscar a dressing down for a lack of work rate and tactical discipline. The Barclays Premier League and Carling Cup trophies calmed the waters on the surface, but deep down that resentment towards the manager likely never left. All it took was results to go south, something that occurred at an unprecedented rate for a defending champion.
The other promary cause of the breakdown derives from the sacking of club doctor Eva Carneiro. It told the players he was willing to throw anyone under the bus if it meant gaining a slight edge, a frightening prospect under any circumstance and an ironic twist of fate given his ultimate demise.
The club’s technical director's stunning public admission of an obvious “palpable discord between manager and players” outlined how severe the problem was and why the relationship became untenable. Throughout the Chelsea TV interview he refused to even mention Mourinho by name, a remarkable act of disrespect that indicates a complete lack of confidence at board level as much as the dressing room.
Guus Hiddink is now left to pick up the pieces from a fractured dressing room where player power wielded the axe. Despite holding on for months hoping for a change in fortune, Roman Abramovich was left with no alternative. However, football fans will be playing the world’s smallest violin for the divisive manager.
Over his two seasons at Stamford Bridge Mourinho failed to develop any youth players, and scapegoated the team, the medical staff, referees and opposition coaches at will for Chelsea's failure to win trophies. Before long his quotes that became iconic in the British tabloids would come back to haunt him.
Jose continues to wait patiently by the phone should Manchester United come calling. If he gets the dream move, Mourinho will need to do something he has never done before by adapting from a carton of milk to a bottle of wine. Top managers win trophies, great ones leave a legacy to be proud of.
