Jose's worst nightmares coming true!
Posted by Blue Champion in Chelsea, Jose Mourinho | 15 October 2006
With the premiership title race getting closer than ever and crucial champions league games coming up, the one thing Jose hated to see has happened and something he would not have imagined also happened. In the process of getting three points, we lost two key goalkeepers atleast for some weeks I think, and had one player sent off. And when you see the opponent is only Reading, it may look that we could have got those points without this drama. Well yes, but luck was certainly not on our side. How many times would you see two goalkeepers of the same team being stretchered off in the same match?
We had 60% of the possession, we had 4 shots on target as compared to none from Reading. We committed 7 fouls, nine fewer than Reading did. But this game was a not a good advertisement for Chelsea Football. I should say we struggled to finish things off. Jose started off with Obi and had Ferreira come in for Carvalho.
Just when things started to seem better in the second half some stupid stuff from Obi reduced us to 10 men. Obi was just being very immature in what he did to get the card and also what he was trying to do after getting it. Thanks to Terry and Drogba, he was just dragged out of the field, before he could do any more nonsense. His moment of madness was completely overshadowed by the injuries to the goal keepers and the subsequent win. I’m sure Boss does just enough make him understand the do’s and don’ts of top flight football.
Sheva had to be subbed when we lost Obi as Jose was changing the formation and Joe Cole, who came in as a sub in the second half, did quite ok though he did not catch the eye too much. Robben was very good as was Drogba, troubling the Reading defence time and again. May be Sheva is rested for the big match of the mid week.
Chelsea’s defence today was outstanding especially that of Captain John and the Khaled the Cannibal. Boulahrouz was such treat to watch as he furstrated Reading completely with this solid tackles and excellent anticipation. Terry once again, was leading like a lion and with no hesitation, took up the goalkeeper’s role when the situation demanded. Terry was my man of the match despite the yellow card he got for mouthing the referee. I dont like players mouthing referees but Terry had a point though he expressed it in a wrong way. It was good to see Chelsea defending so vigorously till the end. It was evident when Jose, Terry and other players discussing and planning so much about what needs to be done, when there was only about 30 seconds left.
Hilario would make his introduction in the most unexpected time as nobody would have thought that he would be unveiled against Barcelona, of all oppositions. But now, it seems like a certainty that he would have to play against Barca. This must be a great opportunity to become a hero of sorts. Hope he comes good. On the other hand, what made Hilario’s inclusion possible was some reckless football.
Mourinho was understandably furious and had more to day on the incident:
"I am not surprised by what Petr has - to be alive he was lucky. The ball is far from the player, the goalkeeper dives for the ball and grabs it with his hands and then comes a boy out of his head, out of his shape. I am also waiting to listen to pundits and experts in the press - I prefer to wait because what happened last season with (Michael) Essien on (Dietmar) Hamann, it is not even close to be compared with what happened today. The story with Thatcher and Mendes is comparable."
"If his head bones are not broken then he is a lucky boy. It was a very bad challenge. He was completely knocked out in the dressing room and went to hospital. I’m not saying his intention was to send my keeper to hospital. But it was a very stupid challenge - one for the authorities to look at in the same way they looked at Ben Thatcher on Pedro Mendes. You see players avoiding the keeper by jumping or going with the foot for the ball but when a player goes with the knee direct to the face he doesn’t want to avoid him. After that he turned, came back and was laughing right in front of us. He was motivating his people but gave not one single sign that he was worried about the situation."
Jose was absolutely spot on. When Essien made that tackle on Hamann that was termed by the Press as ‘The Essien Horror Tackle’ and the press went about writing articles about what kind of criminal Michael Essien is. His name was completely tainted that overshadowed the brilliant player he is. In short, he underwent what the Chelsea Football Club has been going through.
Now I want see how much of the press talks about this incident and to which extent. Jose was also right in comparing this with the Ben Thatcher incident, which even almost went to the extent of filing a police complaint. Stephen Hunt to be seen laughing around, after knocking off a keeper in such a mindless lunge, was very pathetic. One is that he showed complete lack of respect for a fellow-professional, and also that might result unnecessary provocation of the opponent team members and staff. I hope he had not winked as Ronaldo did in the Rooney incident. He could have behaved much better after the incident too. I wish FA has a look at it and things like these should not go unpunished.
I wouldn’t say I’m not concerned but I’m not too worried either. Anyway, we have a top quality defence and world class midfield and attack too. The loss of the keepers to these unfortnate injuries should only motivate us to do better and prove that we are not too much dependant on any single player. With Barca visiting on Wednesday night, my expectations for that match have not changed by today’s unfortuante news.
I would have preferred losing this match and having the keepers intact instead of vice versa. When enquired about the goalkeeper crisis for the Barca match, Jose said:
"I care about my two friends. Barcelona is Barcelona, football is football. I care about it but for me there are more important things. I want them both out of the hospital."
I feel the same way. Get well soon guys!
Comments
This is a brilliant piece of writing from an obviously well informed individual! Now bring on Barcelona
Very good post with a balanced and unbiased view. Good job.