Is Jose’s love affair with Blues on the rocks?
The cracks in the Chelsea manager’s relationship with the club hierarchy were confirmed yesterday by his assistant Baltemar Brito who also revealed the banned coach will watch the first leg “away from the stadium.”
Brito revealed Mourinho, given a two-game touchline ban by UEFA for bringing the game into disrepute for controversial comments he made during and after the previous Champions League clash with Barcelona, will watch the game in a “private place” on television and there will be no contact with the bench via mobile phone or other forms of communication.
It has been suggested Mourinho’s Chelsea future was in doubt because he was angry at the club’s failure to launch an appeal against his ban and Brito did nothing to silence the persistent rumours when asked about the matter at the pre-match press conference.
Brito said: “When Jose comes to a club or starts a new job, he gives 100% and expects 100% back.
“It is something you would have to ask Jose directly but I acknowledge that Jose felt he did not get 100% back.
“Jose is feeling really good right now but in respect of him not being there, he’s not too happy because he feels slightly hard done by about the ban situation and so for that reason, he is not too happy.”
Brito went on to confirm Mourinho had taken the decision to watch the game away from the ground even though he is entitled to be there.
UEFA will not be placing minders on the Chelsea coach to prevent him sending messages to the bench but Brito said the coaching team had no special tricks up their sleeves.
“It was just his decision to stay away,” confirmed Brito. “He will watch the match on television. Jose will be in a private place on his own - a very peaceful place. There will be no contact with his members of staff. He will be away from the stadium.
“But it will be the same as when he is on the bench, I don’t think there will be that much difference. We have no tricks lined up. I’ve worked with Jose for four years and I know his way of thinking pretty much spot on.
“I know as much as he does about the players and the way they play. We work closely enough with the players during the week so on the day of the game there is no need to have that extra special trick or way of being in contact. I have a mobile phone but I switch it off two hours before kick-off and I do not take it with me on the bench.
“Jose does the preparation in advance of the game. He does that in the week leading up to the game so his colleagues know what to do in advance. Although I will be on the bench, it will still be Jose making the decisions because he is such a talented coach, he can think ahead.
Brito confirmed that apart from Paulo Ferreira (broken foot), Scott Parker (ankle), Wayne Bridge (ankle), Arjen Robben (ankle) and the suspended Mateja Kezman, Chelsea had no further injury problems ahead of the tie.
Chelsea must also decide whether to play Eidur Gudjohnsen in midfield or return him to attack.
Gudjohnsen scored twice in the 3-1 Premiership win at Southampton on Saturday while playing in midfield.
: Cech, Johnson, Huth, Terry, Gallas, Lampard, Makelele, Gudjohnsen, Duff, Jarosik, Drogba, Cole, Tiago, Cudicini, Carvalho.
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