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As Chelsea move through the season, many people wonder the mindset of players who have found themselves on the fringes of the first team; and those who have hardly featured at all. Jose has revealed the way he deals with things and it's interesting to say the least.
Speaking before Stoke this evening, Jose was questioned about Petr Cech for example, stepping to one side if Thibaut Courtois is quick to make a return to the starting eleven; how he would deal with telling Cech that he will be dropped to the bench?
Jose responded by saying:
"I'm very club, club, team, team, club, group [orientated]. I think everybody has to be ready to sacrifice for the team, to give everything for the team, to think about the team, not to be selfish. This is the way I want a team to be.”
“I think it is right when you say that players are unhappy or players are frustrated, that they need to be patient. I don't have a secret to keep players happy. But the reality is that, to be professional and work at a high level, you don't need to be happy. All of them are professionals.”
“The team is more important than themselves, and the club is. Even the ones not playing like [Mark] Schwarzer, who hasn't played a second, but if he has to play tomorrow he would be ready. Why? Because he is very professional and he trains very well.”
“We don't have a secret to keep them happy because we don't keep them happy. We may have a secret to make them work every day at a high level."
Petr Cech could be one of those players left unhappy if fit-again Thibaut Courtois is brought back against Stoke.
He continued, “I put the team up, It's my decision and the players may not be happy with the decision, or not agree with the decision, but they know my decision is not to favour somebody or to punish somebody. It is what I think is best for the team at a certain moment. This is the way I do it."
“It's one of the first things I say to every squad at the beginning of the season: I don't give explanations to players unless they ask me for one. If somebody come to me and ask me to explain, obviously [no problem]. But, by principle, I don't explain things.”
“I have to see if Courtois is 99 per cent or 100 per cent. If he's 99 percent he doesn't play for sure. I have to make life easy for me. If I explain to one, I have to give them all explanations. In Christmas, I'd spend all the time giving explanations."
I have to admit that I am surprised that he doesn't give a player an explanation as the season moves on. If he has explained how he intends to work before the season starts and everyone agrees to buy into that, then fantastic.
I like the fact that if anyone has a problem and demands to speak to the manager, he will only then explain his decision and the reasons for it. If he managed to keep everyone happy or at least quiet if they are not playing, but is able to motivate them to train hard every single day then kudos to him.Despite all this, it will be interesting to see if anyone leaves in January!
