Upon his return to Chelsea, manager Jose Mourinho arrived at Stamford Bridge with his reputation harmed. His time with La Liga giants Real Madrid didn’t go to plan, with the Portuguese coach ending his spell in Spain trophyless in his last campaign with Los Blancos.
His departure from the Bernabeu was mutual, but his return to the Premier League saw him endure another season without adding to his trophy cabinet. It was unheard of for the 51-year-old to go on season without winning any club honours, let alone two.
But any critics Mourinho did have prior to this season have now all been banished, as while many were focused on the results, the Chelsea was working behind the scenes building a side that would challenge for major honours in 2014/15.
Despite Chelsea only finishing four points off eventual winners Manchester City last season, Mourinho said all through the campaign that his side weren’t going to be genuine title challengers until 2014/15.
“The title race is between two horses (Manchester City & Liverpool), maybe next season we can race. I don’t agree we are title contenders (this season). We are a team in evolution. I want to start the next pre-season and say we are going to win the league. This season, I can’t,” said Mourinho in February.
It’s been so far so good this season, as the Blues are top of the Premier League, unbeaten with 29 points from 11 games. What’s all the more impressive is how little the Chelsea boss has altered the first team to have them at the summit.
He did sign Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa, who have both made a big impact in the starting eleven, while recalling Thibaut Courtois from his loan spell with Atletico Madrid, but the rest of the side is largely unchanged from 2013/14.
It’s the mentality that is much different this time around. Chelsea are expecting to pick up results in every game they‘re in, and it’s clear in the big games away to elite opposition that their aim is to take a share of the spoils, rather than lose by trying to win.
The Londoners trust in their own abilities that they will better the rest of the competition by winning more games against the lower sides compared to the title contenders, while ensuring they don’t drop points against fellow challengers on the way.
Considering Chelsea are already eight points ahead of the defending champions, it’s going very well and Jose Mourinho deserves the credit for turning the club around.
