Jose Mourinho conducted his final
pre-match press conference of the season at Cobham this morning, and
used his session with the media to give his reaction to being named
Manager of the Season, pay tribute to Frank Lampard, who plays his last
Premier League match this weekend, and reflect on key moments from what
has been a memorable campaign.
The Blues welcome Sunderland to Stamford Bridge on Sunday knowing if we avoid defeat we will end the season as the only team in all four divisions not to be beaten at home in the league.
Before looking ahead to the game, however, Mourinho wanted to praise club legend and our all-time top scorer Lampard ahead of his departure to the MLS.
‘In the same way I said a few words about Steven Gerrard, I have to do the same, with even more emotion, about Frank Lampard, who is also playing his last match in the Premier League,’ said the Chelsea manager.
‘He is one of my best players ever, best professionals ever, a Chelsea legend and a legend in the Premier League. It’s the last match for Frank and obviously I have to honour him and wish him the best in the States. I hope he will be back in England as soon as possible because people like him make this country much better, he’s a big loss for English football.’
The Portuguese then provided his thoughts on how it feels to be named Manager of the Season for the third time in England, having previously taken the prize in 2004/05 and 2005/06.
‘I was not waiting for it, I was never Manager of the Month, but I’m happy with it,’ he stated. ‘It’s a club trophy, not an individual one. It’s for me, my assistants, my players, everybody who works with me.
‘It’s something you don’t just get by yourself. It’s the icing on the cake but I work for the cake. The Premier League is the real cake but obviously to be the Manager of the Season is nice.’
Avoiding defeat on Sunday, as well as maintaining our unbeaten home run, would also see us break Manchester United’s record for the fewest number of losses in all competitions in a season by a Premier League team, which currently stands at five, set in 1998/99.
‘Maybe it will help me to motivate the troops because it’s hard,’ said Mourinho.
‘The education I give to these guys and the way they grow up is by doing anything to try to reach an objective. Keep the focus in training, keep the motivation in every match, it doesn’t matter about the opponent, whether it’s a big one or a small one. Play with the same intensity and desire.
‘So when you reach your objective it’s hard to keep them at this level. They are competitive animals. It’s like the predators when they hunt, afterwards they relax a bit. It’s the last match at home, a place where normally we get positive results, a big day for us with getting our hands on the trophy, so the guys will try everything to win the match.’
Cesc Fabregas will miss Sunday’s game through suspension following his dismissal at West Bromwich Albion on Monday, while both Oscar and Kurt Zouma are out injured. Ramires will also miss the game.
Having returned to the side at the Hawthorns on Monday, Diego Costa will start the game, but Mourinho doesn’t know if Petr Cech or Eden Hazard, who underwent urgent dental surgery, will be available. He did, however, indicate the recent policy of handing youngsters an opportunity will continue, with Andreas Christensen and Jeremie Boga, an 18-year-old French attacking midfielder, hopefully playing some part.
During today’s press conference the manager was also asked to select his favourite moment from the season.
‘It was when the game against Crystal Palace finished because it’s a moment when you feel you are champions,’ explained the Portuguese.
‘I had that feeling for many months, I couldn’t say it to you or the players, but I had the feeling for many months.
‘During the season we had some key moments, for good and bad reasons. The defeat against Tottenham on 1 January, which left us on equal points with the champions having lost a seven or eight-point advantage, was a key moment because it was a big test for our mentality, emotional balance, character and personality. I would choose that negative moment as an important point for us.’
Shortly after the final whistle sounds against Dick Advocaat’s side, John Terry will be presented with the Premier League trophy for the first time since 2010 and it will, of course, be a wonderful moment for all connected with the club.
When the Blues were crowned champions in 2005/06, Mourinho famously threw his medal into the crowd, but he insists that won’t be the case this time around.
‘The trophy, the silver piece, means less than the feeling,’ he said. ‘For me the feeling was against Crystal Palace. I understand people need time to organise things but the reality is that the real feeling for me personally is when you do it.
‘I will keep it this time; my son is collecting all my stuff and keeps everything. He steals everything from me, shirts, medals, cups.
‘The motivation for us is to be champions and for Sunderland not to be relegated. We’ve celebrated already, they’ve celebrated these last fantastic weeks which they’ve had with good results. There is a last match, obviously we want to win and so do they, that’s normal.’
The Blues welcome Sunderland to Stamford Bridge on Sunday knowing if we avoid defeat we will end the season as the only team in all four divisions not to be beaten at home in the league.
Before looking ahead to the game, however, Mourinho wanted to praise club legend and our all-time top scorer Lampard ahead of his departure to the MLS.
‘In the same way I said a few words about Steven Gerrard, I have to do the same, with even more emotion, about Frank Lampard, who is also playing his last match in the Premier League,’ said the Chelsea manager.
‘He is one of my best players ever, best professionals ever, a Chelsea legend and a legend in the Premier League. It’s the last match for Frank and obviously I have to honour him and wish him the best in the States. I hope he will be back in England as soon as possible because people like him make this country much better, he’s a big loss for English football.’
The Portuguese then provided his thoughts on how it feels to be named Manager of the Season for the third time in England, having previously taken the prize in 2004/05 and 2005/06.
‘I was not waiting for it, I was never Manager of the Month, but I’m happy with it,’ he stated. ‘It’s a club trophy, not an individual one. It’s for me, my assistants, my players, everybody who works with me.
‘It’s something you don’t just get by yourself. It’s the icing on the cake but I work for the cake. The Premier League is the real cake but obviously to be the Manager of the Season is nice.’
Avoiding defeat on Sunday, as well as maintaining our unbeaten home run, would also see us break Manchester United’s record for the fewest number of losses in all competitions in a season by a Premier League team, which currently stands at five, set in 1998/99.
‘Maybe it will help me to motivate the troops because it’s hard,’ said Mourinho.
‘The education I give to these guys and the way they grow up is by doing anything to try to reach an objective. Keep the focus in training, keep the motivation in every match, it doesn’t matter about the opponent, whether it’s a big one or a small one. Play with the same intensity and desire.
‘So when you reach your objective it’s hard to keep them at this level. They are competitive animals. It’s like the predators when they hunt, afterwards they relax a bit. It’s the last match at home, a place where normally we get positive results, a big day for us with getting our hands on the trophy, so the guys will try everything to win the match.’
Cesc Fabregas will miss Sunday’s game through suspension following his dismissal at West Bromwich Albion on Monday, while both Oscar and Kurt Zouma are out injured. Ramires will also miss the game.
Having returned to the side at the Hawthorns on Monday, Diego Costa will start the game, but Mourinho doesn’t know if Petr Cech or Eden Hazard, who underwent urgent dental surgery, will be available. He did, however, indicate the recent policy of handing youngsters an opportunity will continue, with Andreas Christensen and Jeremie Boga, an 18-year-old French attacking midfielder, hopefully playing some part.
During today’s press conference the manager was also asked to select his favourite moment from the season.
‘It was when the game against Crystal Palace finished because it’s a moment when you feel you are champions,’ explained the Portuguese.
‘I had that feeling for many months, I couldn’t say it to you or the players, but I had the feeling for many months.
‘During the season we had some key moments, for good and bad reasons. The defeat against Tottenham on 1 January, which left us on equal points with the champions having lost a seven or eight-point advantage, was a key moment because it was a big test for our mentality, emotional balance, character and personality. I would choose that negative moment as an important point for us.’
Shortly after the final whistle sounds against Dick Advocaat’s side, John Terry will be presented with the Premier League trophy for the first time since 2010 and it will, of course, be a wonderful moment for all connected with the club.
When the Blues were crowned champions in 2005/06, Mourinho famously threw his medal into the crowd, but he insists that won’t be the case this time around.
‘The trophy, the silver piece, means less than the feeling,’ he said. ‘For me the feeling was against Crystal Palace. I understand people need time to organise things but the reality is that the real feeling for me personally is when you do it.
‘I will keep it this time; my son is collecting all my stuff and keeps everything. He steals everything from me, shirts, medals, cups.
‘The motivation for us is to be champions and for Sunderland not to be relegated. We’ve celebrated already, they’ve celebrated these last fantastic weeks which they’ve had with good results. There is a last match, obviously we want to win and so do they, that’s normal.’
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