Smear campaign against Jose is petty and wrong

I WAS determined to make my column “upbeat” this week, but I have struggled to find anything to be upbeat about. As expected “Ten Cate” joined us from Ajax — much to the relief of their supporters.

I am surprised this man has chosen to take the job of an assistant coach — especially as an assistant to someone like Avram Grant. Ten Cate has served his apprenticeship — at Barcelona — which then paved the way for him to go on to be a manager. It seems like a backward step of substantial proportions, not only to go back to being an assistant, but assistant to a man who is significantly less qualified than he is.

But then I suppose Ten Cate himself cannot really be lauded for his achievements; the optimists amongst the Chelsea faithful are believing the blurb that he was the real force behind Barça’s Champions League triumph in 2006; those of us of a more pessimistic persuasion cannot get past the fact that Ajax have not only failed to qualify for the Champions League, but have even been knocked out of the UEFA Cup.