Sports

Has Jose Mourinho concluded plans to return to Chelsea this summer? Spanish radio show Punto Pelota revealed that’s exactly what he’s done.

The report claims Mourinho gave a talk to coaches at his sons football club, Canillas, on Monday afternoon where he not only shared his wisdom on all things football but he also confirmed that he will not be at Real Madrid next season. The Portuguese boss was asked if he could come back to do another talk next year, to which Mourinho replied: “To come back next year will be difficult. Next year I will not be here [in Spain].” Mourinho is quoted as saying by Punto Pelota.

Thing’s then got really interesting when Mourinho began to show some of the parents and coaches old pictures and when he got to a photo of the Chelsea team bus, Punto Pelota claim he said ‘this is where I’ll be next year’.

The report then claims Mourinho caught an early morning flight to London the next day [Tuesday] before returning to Madrid later in the day to oversee an afternoon training session with his Real Madrid squad. The reason for ‘The Special One’s’ visit to the capital is reported to have been linked to his daughters schooling for next year but Punto Pelota claim Mourinho is using that excuse as a cover, hinting he was in fact in London to tie up the loose ends of his move back to Stamford Bridge.

While it is still being speculated and wondering whether the report from the Spanish radio station is 100% accurate, it’s certainly an interesting twist and the story has also been reported severally. However, if Mourinho did in fact let slip that he’s heading back to Chelsea, this will be one of the interesting the round leather game call football has to offer and there’s going to be a few happy Blues fans in west London this summer.

Mourinho, born 26 January 1963, is regarded by some players, coaches, and critics as one of the best football coaches of all time. He moved to Chelsea in June 2004, becoming one of the highest paid managers in football with a salary of £4.2 million a year, subsequently raised in 2005 to £5.2 million. In a press conference upon joining the Blues, the Portuguese born soccer tactician said, “Please don’t call me arrogant, but I’m European champion and I think I’m a special one,” which resulted in the media dubbing him “The Special One”.

Under Mourinho, Chelsea built on the potential developed in the previous season. By early December, they were at the top of the Premier League table and had reached the knock-out stages of the Champions League. He secured his first trophy by winning the League Cup against Liverpool 3–2 (AET) in Cardiff. Towards the end of the match, Mourinho was escorted from the touchline after putting his finger to his mouth in the direction of Liverpool fans, as a response to taunts directed towards him whilst Liverpool were leading, before the equalising goal.

The club added more trophies as they secured their first top-flight domestic title in 50 years, setting a string of English football records in the process, including the most points ever achieved in the Premier League (95), and the fewest goals conceded (15). He failed, however, to achieve back-to-back Champions League successes when Chelsea were knocked out of the competition by a controversial goal in the semi-finals by eventual winners Liverpool.

The signing of Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko in the summer of 2006 for a club record fee prove to be a point of contention between Mourinho and Abramovich. Shevchenko, at the time of his signing, was one of the most highly regarded strikers in Europe during his time with Milan, where he won the Champions League, Scudetto, and Ballon d’Or awards in his seven years in Milan. Chelsea had attempted to sign Shevchenko in the preceding two years but Milan rebuffed Abramovich’s interest in him. Shevchenko’s first season at Chelsea was viewed as a major disappointment by the Chelsea fans as he only scored four league goals and 14 in all competitions.

Shevchenko’s strike partner, Didier Drogba, had the highest scoring season of his career that year and this led Shevchenko to be dropped from the starting line-up towards the end of the season by Mourinho. Notably, in the Champions League match at Anfield, Shevchenko was not even included on the bench. Abramovich’s insistence on Mourinho playing the Ukrainian was widely viewed as a further source of friction between the two men. Shevchenko’s signing was not the only one for Chelsea, however, as German captain Michael Ballack was also signed to strengthen the midfield on free agent from Bayern Munich. The Icelandic striker Eiður Guðjohnsen, an important player for Chelsea under Ranieri and Mourinho, departed the club for FC Barcelona.

The 2006–07 season saw growing media speculation that Mourinho would leave the club at the season’s conclusion, due to alleged poor relations with owner Roman Abramovich and a power struggle with sporting director Frank Arnesen and Abramovich advisor Piet de Visser.

Mourinho unexpectedly left Chelsea on 20 September 2007 “by mutual consent,” although there had been a series of disagreements with chairman Roman Abramovich. The Chelsea board held an emergency meeting and decided it was time to part with their manager. Though Chelsea has won Champions League after Mourinho left them six year ago, but he still see as the most successful manager in Chelsea’s history, having won six trophies for the club in three years. He was also undefeated in all home league games.

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Manchester United FC continued their march towards Premier League glory with a 2-0 win at Stoke City FC, after Sunderland AFC celebrated a 3-0 derby win at Newcastle United FC.

Manchester United FC brought their Premier League title dream into clearer view with a 2-0 win at struggling Stoke City FC, and it was also a good day for Sunderland AFC, who beat local rivals Newcastle United FC 3-0 to pull clear of the relegation zone.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side made the perfect start in their bid to bounce back from Monday's derby defeat by Manchester City FC when Michael Carrick opened the scoring with his first league goal of the season on four minutes. The hosts struggled to test David de Gea in the United goal and the result was put beyond doubt midway through the second half when Robin van Persie converted from the penalty spot after being brought down by Andy Wilkinson.

Earlier in the day, Paolo di Canio oversaw his first victory as Sunderland manager in an impressive Tyne–Wear derby win. Stéphane Sessegnon gave the visitors the lead on 27 minutes with a low shot into the bottom left corner, and things went from bad to worse for Newcastle when Tim Krul was taken off with an injury that could rule him out of the rest of the campaign.

Sunderland doubled their lead against the run of the play when Adam Johnson curled a superb effort into the top left-hand corner with 16 minutes remaining, and David Vaughan completed the scoring late on to lift Sunderland three points clear of the drop zone and two behind their opponents.

Manchester City midfielder David Silva missed out on Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea due to injury, while John Terry and Frank Lampard were left on the bench for the Blues.

Silva suffered a hamstring problem in Monday's win over Manchester United and the Spaniard was unable to recover for the Wembley clash.

City boss Roberto Mancini was able to recall Argentina forward Sergio Aguero in place of Silva after his winner at Old Trafford.

Mancini also maintained his Cup routine of selecting Costel Pantilimon in goal ahead of England international Joe Hart.

Blues interim manager Rafael Benitez opted to leave out the vastly experienced Terry and Lampard as he preferred John Obi Mikel in midfield and Branislav Ivanovic in central defence.

Senegal striker Demba Ba was declared fit to start ahead of Fernando Torres after recovering from an ankle problem.

Manchester United extended their lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League to 15 points from Manchester City with a routine 2-0 win over Stoke City, who are just three points above the relegation zone.

Michael Carrick put United ahead just four minutes in while Robin van Persie's second half penalty sealed victory for Sir Alex Ferguson's men, meaning they can now wrap up the title as early as next Monday's match against Aston Villa.

It was the perfect start for United as Van Persie's corner was not cleared by Geoff Cameron and Carrick was on hand to scramble home his second goal of the campaign.

The visitors came close to a second in similar circumstances as Patrice Evra fired over from another Van Persie delivery while Wayne Rooney, playing in a central midfield role, saw his effort well saved by Asmir Begovic.

Stoke, whose fans produced 60 seconds of applause for late 14-year-old fan Kameron Bourne on the 14 minute mark, did offer a test for United's backline.

They went close to a leveller when Robert Huth headed wide from Glenn Whelan's free kick as they looked for a way back into the game.

Stoke were unusually troubled at defensive set pieces and Carrick headed wide from Rooney's corner while an audacious Van Persie effort from 45 yards went well wide of its target.

Dutchman Van Persie, who was without a United goal since February before this game, saw plenty of the ball and was next to go close as his shot from the edge of the area was pushed around the post by Begovic.

As the game became more physical, with Andy Wilkinson left with a head bandage and a change of shirt, Rooney fired a 30-yard free kick off target as United continued to have the better chances.

But buoyed by a passionate home crowd, Stoke put the visiting defence under pressure with Shawcross deflecting wide a Charlie Adam corner.

Stoke had the wind advantage in the second half but it took them a while to get going in a slow start after the break.

It was United who were first to create a chance in the second 45 minutes as Javier Hernandez played in Van Persie with a delicate pass but the Dutchman shot into the side netting from the angle.

Jonathan Walters fired over on the half volley for Stoke from Ryan Shotton's header down after Steven Nzonzi's cross from the left.

Adam, making his first Stoke start since January, offered the Potters a fair bit of creativity and his fizzling left footed drive nearly caught David De Gea out.

Adam shot from the halfway line with the wind behind him forcing the United keeper to backpedal but he made a comfortable save.

Kenwyne Jones was next to fire in a shot from the edge of the area but it missed its target as Stoke showed they still had some attacking threat in them.

But just as it looked like the hosts would have a chance, United hit them on the break with Van Persie fouled by Wilkinson in the area from Rooney's 67th-minute pass.

Van Persie confidently took the spot kick, ignoring the wind which had blown the ball off its spot, to fire low and hard to Begovic's left.

The relief was evident as the former Arsenal player celebrated with his manager Alex Ferguson.

Stoke heads did not drop though and they were nearly back in the game when Shotton shot straight at De Gea after running onto Adam's cross-field pass.

The hosts sent on former United player Michael Owen as he winds down his career but other than an Adam free kick that was pushed away by De Gea, Stoke struggled to find a goal as they lost for a sixth time out of seven.

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