CHELSEA’S TECHNICAL DIRECTOR has offered an explanation as to why Jose Mourinho was sacked just seven months after he guided the club to the Premier League title.
In an interview with Chelsea TV, Michael Emenalo said there was a ‘palpable discord between manager and players’ and the club had no option but to act and part ways with Mourinho.
The Portuguese manager oversaw a run of nine defeats in 16 Premier League outings with the Blues sitting just one point above the relegation zone.
Emenalo ultimately blamed the fraught relationship between Mourinho and the dressing room as the reason behind the Stamford Bridge hierarchy’s decision.
“Whilst there is huge sentiment for the individual who has done so much for the club, the fact remains that Chelsea football club is in trouble,” he said.
“The results are not good. There obviously seems to be a palpable discord between manager and players and we feel it was time to act.”
But he insisted that this wasn’t a pre-meditated decision and there is a contingency plan in place for Chelsea’s game against Sunderland this weekend.
“People need to remember that this is the same group of players who won the league and the League Cup last season,” he said. “They did it by sweating blood for the club. They did it by acting to instruction and did everything the manager asked them to do.
“It’s very easy to make that kind of inference but it’s not one that the club accepts. Obviously we know that those players have a responsibility to go out and prove everyone wrong and try to get the club up the league table.”
“You’re not a big club if you don’t have contingency plans for situations like this.
“We’re a big club that 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.
“The club is working vigorously and actively to make sure that the situation with regards to a managerial appointment is taken care of as soon as possible.”
Furthermore, Emenalo didn’t once mention Jose Mourinho by name during the interview.
You can watch it in full below.
