Jose's best quotes

Chelsea this afternoon sacked Jose Mourinho after their dismal start to the season.

The Portuguese has overseeen a disastrous campaign for the Blues so far, seeing them lose nine of their 16 Premier League outings in a limp defence of their title.

Defeat to Leicester City on Monday evening proved to be the final straw for owner Roman Abramovich, with his side just a point above the relegation zone.

Mourinho has been one of the Premier League’s most colourful characters since its inception in 1992 during his two spells in charge at Stamford Bridge.

Mirror Football has collated some of his most famous and controversial quotes since he first rocked up at Chelsea in 2004.

Here’s the pick of the best.

COBHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho talks to the media during a press conference at Chelsea Training Ground on November 6, 2015 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
Outspoken: Jose Mourinho (Image: Jordan Mansfield)
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Jose's last supper

Jose Mourinho enjoyed a festive last supper as Chelsea boss on Thursday before getting the boot.

Mourinho joined his players and staff for Christmas lunch and their annual party at their Cobham training ground.

Then, not long after he finished eating, chairman Bruce Buck and Eugene Tenenbaum arrived at around 2pm to deliver the news in a 10-minute meeting that his second reign as Blues boss was over.

The Special One took training on Thursday and Mirror Sport ­understands he was unaware his second spell in charge was about to come to an abrupt end.

With the club one point above the relegation zone, Mourinho feared he might have been axed on Wednesday when there were ­intensive talks at boardroom level led by owner Roman Abramovich.

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Jose at the Cottage?

Worth a fiver at the bookies, surely...

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Darren Lewis has his say

Our man Darren Lewis summed his thoughts on today’s events and given his take on what next for Chelsea.

See what he has to say here:

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Mourinho's awkward entrance

Here’s that extremely awkward entrance that last-week’s Jose Mourinho made on BT Sport a few minutes ago.

Brilliant stuff.

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Emenalo: "Competent people" will prepare for Saturday's game

While we get a word from BT Sport’s sponsors, here’s a final blast from Emenalo:

“Obviously we know now the players have a responsibility to go out and prove everybody wrong and show a certain level of commitment to the decision that’s been made to try and get the club up the league table. That’s what they have to do, that’s what they’re supposed to do, that’s what they’ve been trying to do.

“You’re not a big club if you don’t have contingency plans for situations like this and we’re a big club who have quality coaches embedded within the club and I think we will be okay for Saturday.

“We will have competent people come up and help with preparation for the game on Saturday. Make no mistake about it, the club is working vigorously and actively to make sure that the situation regards to a managerial appointment is taken care of as soon as possible.”

COBHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho talks to the media during a press conference at Chelsea Training Ground on November 6, 2015 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
(Image: Jordan Mansfield)
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What makes Jose smile?

What makes you smile?

“At this moment? Win a match.”

He never won another match.

What about away from football?

“I do nothing special. My life is very simple.”

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Jose Mourinho the manager of Chelsea looks on during the UEFA Champions League Group G match between Chelsea FC and FC Dynamo Kyiv at Stamford Bridge on November 4, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
(Image: Mike Hewitt)
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Jose asked if the players need to like him?

This is brilliantly awkward.

Last-week-Jose has just been asked if the players need to like him.

“I think they need to like to work with me,” the then-Chelsea boss says.

“I think they need to understand that I am the best manager I can work with.

“Being friends is a supplement.”

Do they need to be scared?

“No.”

COBHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho talks to the media during a press conference at Chelsea Training Ground on November 6, 2015 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
(Image: Jordan Mansfield)
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Back to Emenalo...

As last-week-Jose talks the talk on BT Sport with a “This programme was recorded in early December” banner flashing across the bottom of the screen every 20 seconds, here’s some more from Emenalo:

“I think the same people need to remember this is essentially the same group of players that won the league and the League Cup last season. They did it in style and by showing commitment and by sweating blood and tears for the club when needed.

“They played to instruction to everything the manager asked them to do, so I think it’s very easy to make that kind of inference, but it’s not one that the club accepts.”

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho
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Mourinho on BT

“Please welcome the man who has won everything, Jose Mourinho,” says Claire Balding on BT Sport in an interview which was recorded last week.

Ouch.

On with the questions.

Which is your favourite club that you’ve managed?

“The only club that I wear the shirt twice is Chelsea, so I would say they are my favourite club.

“Inter was special and Porto was where it began.”

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"One point above relegation in the English Premier League is not good enough"

More from the Chelsea technical director:

“The owner is forced to make what was a very tough decision for the good of the club. We make no mistake about it, Chelsea Football Club are one of the biggest clubs in the world is one point above relegation in the English Premier League, and that’s not good enough.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho
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Emenalo: "The fact of the matter is Chelsea Football Club is in trouble"

Emenalo continues:

“Whilst there is huge sentiment for the individual who has done so much for the club, the fact of the matter is Chelsea Football Club is in trouble. The results are not good, and there obviously seems to be a palpable discord between manager and players and we feel it is time to act.

He also says that Chelsea have “contingency plans” for game against Sunderland. Says new manager will be appointed “as soon as possible”.

BREMEN, GERMANY - AUGUST 03: Headcoach Jose Mourinho and Technical Director Michael Emenalo of Chelsea during the pre season friendly match between SV Werder Bremen and FC Chelsea at Weserstadion on August 3, 2014 in Bremen, Germany. (Photo by Martin Stoever/Bongarts/Getty Images)
(Image: Martin Stoever)
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Michael Emenalo: "There was palpable discord between manager and players"

Chelsea’s technical director Michael Emenalo is currently talking to Chelsea TV.

And it’s pretty full-on.

Why have the club decided to pull the plug now:

“That’s exactly the point. A contract clearly signifies that what happened today was not a pre-meditated decision. It was a decision taken to protect the best interests of the club.”

He also says there was a “palpable discord between manager and players and we feel it was time to act.”

Michael Emenalo
(Image: getty)
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The endless cycle....

Jose Mourinho is heading back to Real Madrid - and could be in charge within a month, according to the club’s former president.

Ramon Calderon says there is “no doubt” that manager Mourinho will replace Rafa Benitez after being axed by Chelsea.

We revealed in October that Mourinho - whose first term at the Bernabeu ended in 2013 after a string of rows and bust-ups - is No1 target of current Real president Florentino Perez.

John Cross has more here.

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70% of you believe Chelsea are WRONG to sack Mourinho

We asked, you voted.

Earlier today we out forward the question: Were Chelsea right to sack Mourinho?

And only 30% said yes, as the overwhelming majority of disagreed with the Blues boards’ decision to give Jose the hook.

Read more here.

COBHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho talks to the media during a press conference at Chelsea Training Ground on November 6, 2015 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
(Image: Jordan Mansfield)
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Was this the tipping point?

Was Mourinho’s post-match rant the tipping point?

Following the Blues’ 2-1 loss at Leicester, the then-Chelsea boss claimed his players were betraying him, which can’t have helped his case.

You can read the full transcript of the interview here or watch him spit out that killer line below in this video:

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Chelsea Supporters’ Trust have their say

Chelsea Supporters’ Trust chairman Tim Rolls appeared on the BBC earlier and he is laying the blame firmly at the door of the players.

“Chelsea should have shipped out struggling players not Mourinho,” he said.

And he’s also taken to his Twitter to let the team know that the fans will be in full voice against Sunderland on Saturday.

Buckle up...

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One of Jose's foes wades in

Glenn Murray’s goal against the champions provided one of the nails in Jose’s coffin and the Bournemouth man took to Twitter earlier to question Chelsea’s decision to sack the Portuguese.

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Coming up...

Jose Mourinho will be all over BT Sport tonight, as the run an interview with the former Chelsea manager.

But don’t expect him to shed any light on his sacking- it was recorded last week, when he was still the Blues boss and Monday night’s loss to Leicester and subsequent wobble was yet to come.

Good timing, huh?

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Analogy corner

So, Gwyneth Paltrow is Jose and John Hannah is Eva, right?

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Diego Costa: Soothsayer?

With Jose Mourinho now sacked as Chelsea boss, many are wondering just how it’s come to this.

Premier League champion in May, the Portuguese boss has now been relieved of his duties after a horrible run of form which has left The Blues languishing 16th in the table. Nobody could have predicted the club’s woes back at the beginning of the season.

However, now we think about it, a select few might have forseen the whole thing a little more recently

Find out why here.

HULL, ENGLAND - MARCH 22: Diego Costa of Chelsea shakes hands with Jose Mourinho manager of Chelsea as he is substituted during the Barclays Premier League match between Hull City and Chelsea at KC Stadium on March 22, 2015 in Hull, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
(Image: Michael Regan)
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Chelsea fans' view: Jose isn't the problem - player power is

Jose Mourinho burst back into Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2013, announcing that he was now ‘The Happy One’.

Two and a half years later, and having not long ago signed a new four year deal, he departs – a decision not of his own making – looking very far from happy.

What went wrong for Mourinho this time around?

Firstly he inherited a squad far less balanced and able than the one he took over from Claudio Ranieri back in 2004.

Years of hiring and firing left a legacy of a cobbled together collection of players who had been appointed to fulfil the tactical expectations of coaches with wildly different philosophies to each other, and to his own.

Read Dan Levene’s full piece here.

Jose Mourinho the manager of Chelsea speaks with Eden Hazard
(Image: Getty)
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Demba Ba on Mourinho's methods

Former Chelsea striker Demba Ba has been giving an interview on French radio station RMC, where he has been talking about Mourinho’s methods.

“When he loses, you feel as if the sky as fallen on his head,” he said.

“It’s rare for him to do three years in a row. For a player, it’s so tiring, exhausting.

“He pushes his players to the limit to see what they’ve got in them. It’s up to you alone to gain confidence again if you lose it.”

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A quarter of the Premier League clubs have sacked their managers

Mourinho’s exit means that five of the 20 Premier League sides have given their manager the boot this season. And we’ve still got seven more doors on our advent calendars to open.

Here’s the full list of managers that you’ll find down the job centre:

  • Dick Advocaat (Sunderland) - Sacked 4 October
  • Brendan Rodgers (Liverpool) - Sacked 4 October
  • Tim Sherwood (Aston Villa) - Sacked 25 October
  • Garry Monk (Swansea) - Sacked 9 December
  • Jose Mourinho (Chelsea) - Sacked 17 December
Brendan Rodgers looks dejected during the match between Stoke City and Liverpoo, which the ended up losing 6-1 on May 24, 2015
(Image: Getty)
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Luis Figo sends his best

Another titan of Portuguese football has tweeted.

This time it’s former FIFA presidential candidate and Just For Men enthusiast Luis Figo.

Here’s what he had to say:

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Joey Barton has his say...

Burnley midfielder and Twitter philosophiser Joey Barton has shared his opinion on today’s events.

He believes that the club would only let Mourinho go if they had someone better lined up.

The only other options? Pep Guardiola or Diego Simeone, he reckons.

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What about the backroom staff?

As usually is the case, it’s not the manager losing their job.

Rui Faria, Silvino Louro, Jose Morais and Carlos Lalin will leave the club (a week before Christmas), while Steve Holland, Chris Jones and Christophe Lollichon remain.

That likely means Holland will be in charge for Sunderland.

And with a Dutchman waiting in the wings, there’s some lovely symmetry there.

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 07: Chelsea assistant coach Steve Holland is seen prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Stoke City and Chelsea at Britannia Stadium on November 7, 2015 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
(Image: Getty)
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Carra has a dig...

Cheeky chappy - and Sky Sports pundit - Jamie Carragher is getting A LOT of bites on Twitter this evening...

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Look who’s popped up on Twitter...

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Robbie Savage: Will Man United finally make their move?

As I said in my column earlier this week, some of Chelsea’s senior players need to take a long, hard look in the mirror.

If any manager has earned the right to turn it round after a difficult four months, it’sJose Mourinho.

Where are Chelsea going to find another manager with his pedigree, charisma and track record?

To lose the Special One eight years ago could be written off as an accident: to lose him again feels like sacrilege.

I wonder if Manchester United, who thought twice about appointing him when Sir Alex Ferguson retired, will now make a move for the most successful manager in English football over the past decade.

Read more from Robbie here.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho
(Image: PA)
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