The media has been full of comments from one of our recent ex-managers, who happens to now be in charge of the side we face tonight. Much the same scenario as when we faced Cluadio Ranieri’s Juventus last season, or Avram Grant’s Portsmouth this season.
This difference is, of course, the man we face tonight is somewhat more contentious in the hearts of our support: Jose Mourinho.
It would be daft to suggest there’s been a media blackout from Jose, we hear something new every few days about the Portuguese, either directly associated to this club and his dislike for the manager (yes, folks, it’s true: blinkers off) or just to English football in general.
It also would be daft to expect not to hear anything from the manager of the opposition in a key European fixture, so you can’t fault Jose for piping up in his usual style.
The more I read it all however, the more I open NewsNow etc and see “Jose, Jose, Jose, Jose, Jose” on a variety of subjects spanning from our under-achievement since he left (LEFT, not sacked) to Ashley Cole’s career plans, I generally tend to think I’ve hit saturation point. Which is odd. As I thought I’d hit that in 2007.
Jose’s always going to hold a special position in the hearts of modern Chelsea supporters – he’s the man that guided us in to the beach safely on the wave of Roman’s investment. He spearheaded our charge into the big-time and gave the stability and personality required to galvanise a side of world class talent. He won us titles and, at the very least, infamy.
Perhaps in contradiction then of this very sites name, I look back on the Jose times and see finger waving at Roman from the Wembley touchline. I see comments about insufficient club youth, comments about £30million strikers quite contrary to the “Today is a day when the dream became reality. Andriy has always been my first choice for Chelsea since I arrived” we heard when signing the player. The FA, UEFA, laundry baskets, Omelettes. It was certainly a rollercoaster under Jose and whether you idolise him or frankly were relieved when he mutually agreed to leave – perhaps as a support base we should be thinking more about progression past an Italian side, and maintaining our lead at the top of the Premiership, than hanging on the words of that ex girlfriend who said “it’s not me, it’s you – we should take a break”.
We’re due to see her in the street tonight, arm-in-arm with her new boyfriend – and you can guarantee she’ll look us up and down, sneer, then pinch her new fellas arse.
Yes the sex was amazing, but it dried up a little towards the end – the rows weren’t much fun either. It took some getting over but I think, personally, we HAVE moved on as a team at least.
So let’s see Carlo’s Chelsea advance in the Champions League and beat City at the weekend, and let’s not worry about Franco managing West Ham, Eidur in a Spurs shirt or Jose once again passing comment on the club.
We’ve got titles to win.