adminRoman Abramovich told Chelsea’s under-performing players that he didn’t want to sack Jose Mourinho during an address at their Cobham training ground yesterday afternoon.
Abramovich was on site to watch yesterday morning’s session after the champions’ departing manager had returned to Cobham to bid farewell to his former charges and thank them for their hard work earlier in the day.
Chelsea owner Abramovich then oversaw the preparations for today’s clash with Sunderland at Stamford Bridge, led by Steve Holland and Eddie Newton, and spoke to the players in his native Russian before it was all translated into English.
Abramovich, who fired Mourinho on Thursday at the club’s training ground, told the players he had been reluctant to sack the most successful manager in the club’s history.
He also added that he was left with little option but to fire the Portuguese coach after Chelsea were beaten for the ninth time this season in the Barclays Premier League by high-flying Leicester City on Monday evening.
Abramovich went on to tell the players that it is a fresh start and that he expected immediate improvements following the decision to replace Mourinho.
The club have been in talks with Guus Hiddink for several weeks about taking the job on an interim basis and he is expected to watch today’s clash at Stamford Bridge from the stands.
Mourinho was allowed back into the complex yesterday and he addressed the players and reminded them of what it took to be winners last season, when they landed the Premier League and the Capital One Cup. But not all of the Blues’ top stars were present.
Although Mourinho expressed disappointment that they have failed to build on last season’s success, it is understood that he wished them well and thanked them for their support last year. — Dailymail
Online Reporter