Chelsea’s Nigerian-born technical director Michael Emenalo has absolved the club’s players of any blame following the decision to sack manager Jose Mourinho on Thursday.
According to him, the discord between the coach and the team was at the heart of the problem.
In a surprise development, Chelsea sacked Mourinho, the club’s most successful manager ever following a string of poor results this season. Last season, Mourinho won the league for Chelsea but things have been hard during the current campaign with the club lying 16th in the league table, just one point above the relegation zone.
From all indications, Mourinho had lost the dressing room and the players were not behind him, prompting them to put in lacklustre performances. According to Emenalo, there was palpable discord between manager and players, which made the relationship tenuous.
Emenalo said: The players have a responsibility to go out and prove everybody wrong and show a commitment to the decision that has been made to try and get the club up the league table. This club is in trouble and something needed to be done.”
He added that the squad consisted of the same group of players who won the league and League Cup in style last season while sweating tears and blood. However, Emenalo pointed out that earlier this season, he said some of his players had shown an unstable attitude.
Following Monday’s 1-2 loss to top-of-the-table Leicester City, Mourinho said his work was betrayed by his players. Midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who in November denied there was a player revolt, also said on that the players need to justify their big wages.
Chelsea face fellow strugglers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge today and Emenalo said competent people would help with preparation for the game.
Former Super Eagle Emenalo, who first joined the club as opposition head scout in 2007, said a contingency plan was in place to ensure the team was prepared for the match.
Emenalo added: “You’re not a big club if you don’t have contingency plans for situations like this. Make no mistake about it, the club is working vigorously and actively to make sure a managerial appointment is taken care of as soon as possible.”
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich could be forced to pay Mourinho up to £10m as the Portuguese manager signed a four-year deal this summer. With that deal only a few months old and no get out clause in the contract, Mourinho will be paid by Chelsea until he lands another job.
As part of the settlement to leave by mutual consent, Mourinho is being paid £250,000 a week up to a maximum of £10m. If he were to take a job next week the club would only pay him nominal compensation but an extended break from football would see him earn the full £10m.
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