Jose
Mourinho’s Chelsea departure has been the talk of the footballing world
since it was confirmed on Thursday afternoon. The second spell of the
Portuguese at the Stamford Bridge was one that created varied opinions
and the news of his departure is producing different shades of thoughts.
Sunderland
manager Sam Allardyce told Sky Sports on Thursday, “I’m shocked, I have
to say. The timing is quite amazing, just a couple of days before the
game they’re playing against us, is something I thought wouldn’t happen.
“And at
this period of time at Christmas when you’re trying to bring in a
manager with all the games, is a strange choice. We don’t know what’s
happened, what’s gone on, but we have to face Chelsea on Saturday and
try to get a result.”
The
decision of Chelsea management to axe the ‘Special One’ may have come as
a shock to Allardyce, but former Nigerian captain Chief Segun Odegbami
has not taken it in the same way. Indeed, he added a different dimension
to the talk when he spoke with our correspondent.
He said,
“I’m looking at the issue from a technical point of view. For what
happened in Chelsea the past few months was more of spiritual rather
than being technical. It was a contest between sheer arrogance and
diligence to duty. There was no explanation for what Mourinho did to the
team doctor, Eva Carneiro. And since then nothing has been the same
with the team.
“They had
one of the best collections of players in the world and they were not
playing badly but still could not win. How do you explain that? In life
humility pays better than arrogance.”
On
Nigeria’s Mikel Obi and his future at the club after Mourinho, Odegbami
said, “Mikel has some few years left; we have seen his best in the past.
I don’t see anything changing there; it’s best for him to move on and
enter another phase of life.”
Bournemouth
striker Glenn Murray said in shock, “How can you sack Mourinho? If his
success doesn’t buy time then no one is safe.”
Chelsea in a statement on their website praised Mourinho for his achievements.
The
statement read, “Chelsea Football Club and Jose Mourinho have today
parted company by mutual consent. All at Chelsea thank Jose for his
immense contribution since he returned as manager in the summer of 2013.
“His three
league titles, FA Cup, Community Shield and three League Cup wins over
two spells make him the most successful manager in our 110-year history.
But both Jose and the board agreed results have not been good enough
this season and believe it is in the best interests of both parties to
go our separate ways.”





