This question looms in the minds of many admirers of this beautiful game. Had Jose Mourinho still been in charge what would have happened?
Like most of the last season, I am sure and so would every Chelsea fan agree that they would still have had a chance of winning all the four trophies this season.
Let's start with that League Cup humiliation at the hands of Spurs. The question is, would Chelsea have blown it away with the special one behind them: most football pundits don't think so.
Jose Mourinho was a proven winner and a man of cup competitions. So he would have definitely been inspirational when Grant chose to just watch John Terry and Steve Clarke rally the troops.
Secondly, Chelsea would have almost certainly booked their place at Wembley for an FA Cup final, and it would shock the entire world if they didn't win their second consecutive FA cup against a lower league team.
Would Jose have allowed his team to be beaten by a team fighting for a place in the Championship?
Now is the interesting part, everyone had praised Avram Grant for getting through that difficult period with injuries and the African Cup of Nations with very good results.
However in my opinion Jose Mourinho would have done it equally good if not better.
With most of the Chelsea fans giving their opinion that Chelsea are still within a shout for their third league title in four years and a Champions League title that has evaded them for many years, in spite of their manager rather than because, it remains to be seen whether this team can do the magic without their special one.
In my opinion, with Mourinho behind them, Chelsea would still be with in contention for a League title like they are now, and a semi final berth against Liverpool in the Champions League.
The question that will remain to be answered is can Chelsea knock out Liverpool, third time lucky perhaps?
They would have successfully defended the FA cup and the Carling Cup.
Another difference would be the attitude of Didier Drogba and many other team mates on the field.
Would Mourinho be sitting quietly when someone from his team had made a wrong pass?
What has Roman done to a club that were almost cruising for another successful season?
Comments (18) Add a comment »
from about 1 month ago
So why was chelsea lagging when Mourinho left? At that time also, special one was there.
from about 1 month ago
So what? Jose has gone - how does keeping on bitching about it help the club? What the team need from supporters is support not this boring moaning - move on man, or go watch another team.
from about 1 month ago
Nice Article.... Every chelsea fan would agree....... Wish Jose would cum back....... whereva he goes he rocks!!!!!!!!
from about 1 month ago
Jose Mourinho foreva!!!!!!!!!!!
from about 1 month ago
I think Chelsea fans are crazy. You wonder why you get a reputation as glory hunters when you all go an like that. You are still in 2 competitions and got to a cup final (you can't win them all...Spurs wanted it more).
Look at Arsenal, nothing for 3 seasons and like it or not they're a bigger club than Chelsea.
So why not just be happy with where you are this season!!!
from about 1 month ago
we cant .... becos we are not like arsenal....we are here to win sumthing every season...... that's wat Jose Mourinho promised to do........that's y v luv him soo much.......stupid gooners are satisfied easily......
from about 1 month ago
Bro, first of all Jose won't come back as someone already said, so no point bitching about it! Secondly, Chelsea were languishing when Jose left - Jose was known for his boring but EFFECTIVE tactics! - Chelsea were dropping points all over the place at the beginning of the seson...
I agree Grant is not a quality coach but nevertheless, it is what it is...
Btw. this is coming a fellow Chelsea fan..!!
from about 1 month ago
Jose was droping points because he was being undermined by Abramovich and the board, not because he had run out of ideas. Had they let him work, he'd be leading the premier league by now, would have probably won the League Cup and would be in contention for another two prophies.
from about 1 month ago
Salomon hit it spot on - do you even remember the start of the season? I was questioning whether Chelsea were even going to finish out this year in the top four with the way they were playing under Mourinho!
There is a huge problem with the attitude of Chelsea's "superstars" themselves that they don't put on the shirt and play for the supporters in every match. They are overpaid celebrities more than anything anymore. Grant is not a bad manager - you Chelsea fans just can't seem to cope with anyone who isn't looking to steal the spotlight any chance he can get. Mourinho was great, Mourinho will be great again for someone else. But the problem hasn't been with management of the team - it's been with the team itself.
And Andrew hit it spot on with the Carling Cup - Spurs wanted it after a dreadful first half of the season. Chelsea simply thought it was their RIGHT to win.
from about 1 month ago
first of all i strongly disagree with this article, yes Mourinho was an amazing manager but chelsea would not have been in contention of winning all four cups this season.
Mourinho is a good manager, but he had the aid to money to help him win the titles he won. with money he could buy good players and then galvernise them to win football game. arsneal's Arsene Wenger also has the ability to inspire players to win but without the same amount of money he could not purchase the players he wanted.
So please do not say with Mourinho chelsea would be much better of as i feel he just had very good players.
The only reason Grant is having trouble is that the players Mourinho had are unwilling to forget Mourinho and play under Grant.
Players like Makelele, Terry, Essien, Lampard and Drogba are not putting in mouth watering perfomances and trying their hardest to impress their manager and their fans because they want to dwell on the past. Grant needs to put some of the big players on the bench to show them they are expensable and show that he is in charge. the only problem is that he picks to do it at the wrong time and the Carling Cup Final is not the best place to leave your best players out.
from about 1 month ago
Mourinho was a great coach and he is missed. However I will that at least say Grant has brought some peace without the fancy headlines. I love Chelsea and Mourniho was a great coach, but the constant media headlines/drama, while hilarious most of times, did start to wear on me a bit. You had a feeling he won't survive much longer anyway. (Much like Liverpool is going through now-at least in the papers anyway). There will be quite a few changes next year. Let's just hope that whatever happens we will get a little younger, finish games off better, and that whoever is manager will win games-that's the bottom line. The PL race is over now with the draw against Wigan but hopefully we'll play good against Liverpool. We'll see...But let's root and cheer for the Blues...
from about 1 month ago
My question is whether all you Chelsea fans dwelling on what could have been are actually Chelsea supporters or Jose supporters?
There will always be time to look back and say "i wonder what would have happened if (insert rest of statement here)?" but there is also a little bit of reality you need to get a hold of ya know? jose was a good manager but chelsea struggled early this season and he was out. Maybe it wasnt the best decision, but thats what happened. Now that said, You still have a shot at the CL, and although this is a longer shot, the League title.
So why not back your team?
from about 1 month ago
Jose is back in England, He is on Setanta Sports
from about 1 month ago
that sucker grant has messed up... 1-1 vs wigan ;(
jose was the best.........
from about 1 month ago
If only..If only...crap..
Then Arsenal fans would say if only Henry was not sold
United fans will say if only nobody got injured..
Its all bullshit..football is not about if only this had happened..or if that had happened.
from about 1 month ago
I am not a fan of United, but lets face it, they have been leagues ahead of everyone this year, its no use looking back with if only's they don't work we must look to the future and try and improve.
from about 1 month ago
trouble is, no matter what team you are supporting there are ALWAYS if only questions!!!
we do really and truly believe that jose was the best thing that EVER happened to Chelsea. Fifty years it took us to win the PL and Jose turns up and we then win them back to back. 3 years he was there and how many cups did he win us??? speaks volumes don't u think!!!
year before last we had all the excuses under the sun from man utd and fergie, how come his excuses are OK and acceptable but there's always a stink when its chelsea. favouritism!!! good old fashioned favouritism and discrimination! everyone slags off chelsea but look at the rest of the league first please. LONG LIVE CHELSEA AND LING LIVE JOSE, he will be back you know and probably at anfield!!! mark my words!!!
from about 1 month ago
I definitely support my team, no matter what. I do have to be realistic about our PL chances though. I'll back my team, but our destiny isn't in our own hands now. So I cheer, hope, and try to enjoy my team. I'll support my team, even if I haven't necessarily fallen head over heels for Grant.
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