MOURINHO: QUALITY COUNTS
Jose Mourinho has highlighted the importance
of producing quality football when there is a
lack of time and space
It was the kind of fixture last season in which we
on occassions had problems, with sides happy to
defend deep and in large numbers. Mourinho
hopes to avoid any repeat of the difficulties this
time around.
'When you have matches with space and time it's
much easier,' he explained. 'People talk about
tactics and systems, 4-4-2, 4-5-1, but in a simple
way to analyse football everything depends on
space and time.
'In certain matches, when you don't have space
and time to play, you need more quality. We are
working in that direction, to play against teams
with low blocks and who are very compact, to play
against teams with 10 players behind the ball.
'We need more quality in our game, we've been
working on playing against a team who are
defensive, trying to close every road to goal. We
have to improve in terms of character but we need
more quality.'
The importance of depth of squad in the modern
game can't be understated, particularly with
European football to navigate as well as domestic
matters, and Mourinho believes he has adequate
cover in all positions to challenge on four fronts
this season.
'You play 60 matches a season and you cannot
play with the same players every time,' said the
Blues boss. 'In the first three weeks you have one
match per week but after that the cups start, the
Champions League, internationals, so you have to
rotate players.
'Everybody will have a chance, nobody will feel as
though they are first choice or second choice. For
example, in midfield we have Mikel, Matic,
Ramires, Fabregas and Van Ginkel, so everybody
will play and will feel useful, important.
'On the field we have a very good balance, even
with the Under-21s. For example, (Andreas)
Christensen isn't selected for Monday so he
played for the Under-21s against Manchester City,
they will have competition even when they are not
selected by me.'
The departures of Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole
and David Luiz since the end of last season have
taken some big personalities away. Mourinho is
confident our new signings can drive the team on,
but believes it's their abilities as players which
will have the biggest, most positive, impact.
'They are players with experience, a certain kind
of character,' he said, 'but what do I prefer,
Fabregas's character or his quality as a player?
His quality as a player.
What do I prefer in Diego Costa, his ambition in
every game? No, his quality as a player. He
doesn't lose balls, he receives the ball with his
back to the opponent and relieves the pressure,
technically he's good. We went by the football
profile but we could also have a personality
profile which improves the team.'
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.