José: Bad season for Blues

Mon, 26th May 2008

Former Chelsea manager José Mourinho feels sorry for the Blues but insists they have had a bad season because they have failed to win anything. Chelsea sacked Mourinho's successor, Avram Grant, on Saturday evening after the west London side lost the Champions League and Carling Cup finals as well as finishing second to Manchester United in the Premier League.

Mourinho, who left Stamford Bridge in September 2007, told the Observer when asked if Chelsea has had a good season: "That depends on your philosophy of leadership.

"In my philosophy it was a very bad one because in football 'almost' means defeat and Chelsea almost won the Carling Cup, almost won the Champions League and almost won the Premier League. Almost in nothing.

"After two titles per season for the last three years there were zero titles this season, which in my philosophy means a really bad season. Maybe in the philosophy of a loser this was a great season, which I respect.

"I am very sad about what happened. In the last two years this team lost a Champions League final and a Champions League semi-final on penalties. The supporters deserve more, (the players) and some others deserve happiness. I still think of them as my boys.

"I believe that after an empty season new success will come to Chelsea. And I will always be a Chelsea supporter."

Chelsea TV Exclusive: Buck to the Future

Sat, 24th May 2008

With thoughts moving on from the Champions League Final and ahead to challenges to come, chairman Bruce Buck has outlined some basic intentions.

He was talking on Friday night's Live From Stamford Bridge on Chelsea TV. responding to views and questions from supporters. The summer transfer aims were discussed.

'So there is going to be some movement just to get the squad down to the size we think is optimum. In terms of other transfers generally, every year we want to tweak the squad a bit so there will be some changes but I don't expect there to be massive, wholesale changes.'
Specifically on Didier Drogba, the chairman commented:
'Didier is a superb player generally. There have been some comments reported to be made by Didier over that last year that maybe he would like to leave Chelsea. On most occasions he has said that he has been misquoted.

'Now that the season is over, we have to sit down with him and see what the story is and what his future is. He is a great player, I hope he stays, but that is a decision the club and Didier will have to make collectively.
'This year he has had some niggling injuries but we know he can change the course of a game, as he nearly did in Moscow.
'As I have said, he is a superb player but if you are a world class player, which he is, you have to avoid the silly red cards, the ones that come about over nothing - and I think Didier will be sorry that he got that red card.'
Buck responded to queries about the team management situation as well as assessing the season as a whole.

'I really can only say what Avram said on the plane yesterday (Thursday) to a bunch of journalists - which is there is no news.
'We have had a great season. In the four competitions we were in, we were runners-up in three of them.
'But we have very high expectations at Chelsea Football Club and a couple of second place finishes is just not good enough us - so although we never would have thought in September when José Mourinho left that we would be able to make it into a Champions League Final - as we did, and that is fantastic - Chelsea is here to win trophies so although it was an excellent season, we are still disappointed.'

Lamps: We'll Be Back

Thu, 22nd May 2008

Frank Lampard, the first Chelsea player to score in a Champions League Final, believes that the better side lost out in Moscow on Wednesday evening, but is adamant that the Blues will return stronger for the experience.

The midfielder calmly slotted home our equaliser on the stroke of half-time in the Luzhniki Stadium after Cristiano Ronaldo had given Manchester United the lead, and then converted his penalty in the shootout, only to see team-mates John Terry and Nicolas Anelka miss.

Lampard freely admitted it was a bitter pill to swallow, but backed his team-mates to recover from the disapointment.

It's a small, small detail that loses you the game. No one can deny that after 30 minutes of the game we completely dominated,' he began.
'The best team didn't win, but let's take nothing away from Man United, they are a fantastic team and they've gone and won the Champions League, but it's very hard to take when it happens like that.'
Playing just weeks after the death of his mother Pat, Lampard was able to put the defeat into context, but was full of sympathy for his team-mates.

Terry had the chance to seal victory for the Blues, but at the crucial moment lost his footing, and saw his spot kick clip the outside of the post and bounce clear. Having missed in a shootout while playing for England in the World Cup two years ago, Lampard could empathise with how his captain and close friend was feeling.

'John is Mr Chelsea, he is Chelsea through and through and wants this more than anyone. I just want to say that not many centre-halves will stand up and take penalties, and that's testament to his character as a man.
'At the end of the day it's a game of football - we'll be back.'