Another season, another managerial change at Chelsea, as Jose Mourinho yesterday left the club for a second time.
Newstalk Sport's Oisin Langan caught up with The Sun's Deputy Head of Sport Martin Lipton today, to discuss Mourinho's team at Chelsea and what the future holds for the current Premier League champions.
The Portuguese left the club yesterday, as the club lie in 16th place, just seven months after winning the league. Lipton felt the move was long coming. "He was unhappy in the summer at the failed recruitment policy... He just leaves players with nothing left. Each time the third season has been poor but it has got increasingly poorer".
In the immediate aftermath of Mourinho's departure, Spanish internationals Cesc Fabregas and Cesar Azpilicueta made public their thanks for what Mourinho had done for their careers. Lipton feels that any players who did not publicly show their support for Mourinho may be seen by the fans as being anti-Mourinho. "This is just a sensible defence mechanism" from the players he added.
Thank you for all you have done for me. I owe you a lot and we will all miss you. Good luck in the future. pic.twitter.com/RQlOTFrtzU
— Cesc Fàbregas Soler (@cesc4official) December 17, 2015
Today is a sad day. I would publicly like to thank José Mourinho for his contribution to this club and for everything he...
Posted by Cesar Azpilicueta on Thursday, December 17, 2015
Lipton feels that current Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone is the favourite to take the job in the summer, although he feels the club would love to tempt Pep Guardiola to London. "They would have Guardiola for any money tomorrow. They would make him a 'name your price' offer. If he asked for the moon, they would offer him Mars and Mercury as well". Simeone's limited grasp of the English language may cause him issues though, Lipton added.
Guus Hiddink is expected to be announced as the Interim Manager later today. The Dutch manager has already held a similar position at the club in 2009, where he guided the side to FA Cup triumph. "Whether Hiddink will be able to re-create in 2009, I doubt. He's got a far weaker dressing room in terms of playing ability, and more importantly character than he had when he took over from (former manger Luiz Felipe) Scolari".
Whatever happens to Chelsea in the coming weeks and months, it will be hard for them to take something positive from the 2015/16 season.
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