Kontra
25 Jan 2005, 12:52 PM
Chelsea is having great success this season, and will continue to have as long as Mourinho will be manager in my opinion. But why does he succeed so much better than the other coaches? I think he is years ahead of any other coach, and these are the points where i think he gains his advantage:
* Perfect rotation of the players. Making each player (of an about 20 player group) feel usefull for the team, making a lot of minutes, plus keeping each player in his prime shape all season long.
* High pressure system - Chelsea starts pressuring the oposing team in their defense, with two defensive lines. Even if they can circle the ball through the first line, there is the 2nd defensive line. You dont see the ball without a Chelsea player running after it. This is achieved not by running more than the oposition, but by a much better and more advanced placement of the players in the field.
* Steel defense - Goals just dont happen. The pressure is so high in the midfield that the defense is far away from the goal and diminishes a lot the space to play of the oposition.
* Ruthless in corners, throw in's, etc - Every move is planed. Every player knows his place, his player to mark. In the atack there are some powerfull combinations that result in a lot of critical goals, special in the decisive times like the European Champions League.
* Motivational skills - Mourinho wasnt a football player, but studyed instead physical education and psicology aplyed to sports. He knows how to motivate his players. Also he knows how to make the other team nervous. His coments are not only arrogant, but have the intention of messing with the oposing teams, making them feel pressure in the game.
His players also respect him as no one. Indiscipline is not tolerated. Also when the players enter the pitch, they trust him 200%, they know the tactic is perfect and that they are going to win. This generates a circle of trust that is unshaken, and that generates even more trust.
* Talent finder - He always picks the right players for the right spots. Players like Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, Maniche and others were bought from secundary portuguese clubs and turned into European level stars. In Chelsea, with the money he just picked the players he wanted for the style of play he intended. No stars like Figo, Zidane etc, but instead top 50/100 players that work their ass off for the team!
* Bring out the best of each player - Players grow with him. You can now see for instance Lampard, Robben, Terry and others shine more than they ever did. Even Joe Cole is becoming a good and a team player!
* Studying the oposing team like no one - He makes his players watch movies of the oposing team and explains every typical move they make. This is specially usefull for instance for Makelele. He always seems to be in the right spot. This will be even more usefull with the 10 point lead, so he can fully concentrate on analysing the Champions League oponents and find their weaknesses.
* Perfect rotation of the players. Making each player (of an about 20 player group) feel usefull for the team, making a lot of minutes, plus keeping each player in his prime shape all season long.
* High pressure system - Chelsea starts pressuring the oposing team in their defense, with two defensive lines. Even if they can circle the ball through the first line, there is the 2nd defensive line. You dont see the ball without a Chelsea player running after it. This is achieved not by running more than the oposition, but by a much better and more advanced placement of the players in the field.
* Steel defense - Goals just dont happen. The pressure is so high in the midfield that the defense is far away from the goal and diminishes a lot the space to play of the oposition.
* Ruthless in corners, throw in's, etc - Every move is planed. Every player knows his place, his player to mark. In the atack there are some powerfull combinations that result in a lot of critical goals, special in the decisive times like the European Champions League.
* Motivational skills - Mourinho wasnt a football player, but studyed instead physical education and psicology aplyed to sports. He knows how to motivate his players. Also he knows how to make the other team nervous. His coments are not only arrogant, but have the intention of messing with the oposing teams, making them feel pressure in the game.
His players also respect him as no one. Indiscipline is not tolerated. Also when the players enter the pitch, they trust him 200%, they know the tactic is perfect and that they are going to win. This generates a circle of trust that is unshaken, and that generates even more trust.
* Talent finder - He always picks the right players for the right spots. Players like Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, Maniche and others were bought from secundary portuguese clubs and turned into European level stars. In Chelsea, with the money he just picked the players he wanted for the style of play he intended. No stars like Figo, Zidane etc, but instead top 50/100 players that work their ass off for the team!
* Bring out the best of each player - Players grow with him. You can now see for instance Lampard, Robben, Terry and others shine more than they ever did. Even Joe Cole is becoming a good and a team player!
* Studying the oposing team like no one - He makes his players watch movies of the oposing team and explains every typical move they make. This is specially usefull for instance for Makelele. He always seems to be in the right spot. This will be even more usefull with the 10 point lead, so he can fully concentrate on analysing the Champions League oponents and find their weaknesses.