'Stop making excuses, Jose and learn to lose': A Chelsea fan's letter to Mourinho

Dear Jose Mourinho,

Let’s just start off the bat. You’re in trouble. You just lost for the fourth time out of eight occasions this season. It’s the second home defeat of the season. Things aren’t looking good. You were spot on a few days ago when you said this was the lowest point of your career as a manager. I’ll give you that. What I won’t give you is the fact that after losing 3-1 to Southampton, you came out and blamed the referee, again, and passed it off as honesty. I’m sorry my friend, that is not honesty.

I trust you to be a man of intelligence, a man of footballing knowledge and someone who knows when a situation goes south. And judging how things are for you and Chelsea right now, south is the South pole. You cannot seriously believe that not getting a penalty is Chelsea’s problem right now. You’re smarter than that. Of course, this is one of your ’let’s-say-something-so-outrageous-that-they’ll-forget-how-bad-the-team-was’ move. But, let’s face it. That move is old, and frankly, it’s not helping your players and it is certainly not helping you.

What I found interesting instead was the later part of your post-match interview. You said you’re not going to run away from this and if the powers high up want to sack you, they can, but they’d be sacking the best manager Chelsea ever had.

It’s good to hear you don’t plan to abandon a sinking ship. But the fact of the matter is, you’re only the first mate. The captain is a rich Russian, who has invested too much in the ship and cares about it a lot, and he is known to have little patience. Had it been anyone but you, heads might have rolled by now. But it’s you, Jose Mourinho. The loved one.

Your statement might seem like a bold one, but more accurately, it comes off as a plea. It could very easily be translated to ‘please do not sack me’. You said you are a Chelsea fan and it is explicit that you love the club and care about it. And what the hell, let’s admit it, you were right when you said you were the best manager the club ever had. It was you who transformed Chelsea from court jesters to kings. Chelsea, though admirably steered by Claudio Ranieri before you, tasted blood under your command. And they’ve been thirsty since then.

But the thing is, this is not your first time around here. Chelsea has and will be thirsty without you too. They, after all, won the Champions League without you. And like you said, bad results are a manager’s responsibility.

Simply put, it’s time to own up.

It was not the referee, Jose. The problems rest in Chelsea’s cupboard, one which is very dusty and full of skeletons and cobwebs. And for as long as you’re here, it’s upon you to clear it out. I’ve got to ask you one thing, just out of curiosity.

Why are you still playing Branislav Ivanovic? It is so unlike you. You benched Iker Casillas at Real Madrid! That is like taking the priest of the church to confession. You must know it’s not you who is the problem and neither is it just Ivanovic. This crisis needs a larger perspective.

Things won’t rise and shine if the ship’s captain makes you walk the ramp and pokes you with his sword. But it is time for you to start making some real decisions. It is time to look in the mirror and blame yourself and your team instead of the referee. You’ve got a take a gulp and accept defeat.

If the captain keeps his patience, you have got to keep yours in turn and ride out the storm. You’ve got to understand that on some days you’ll finish second best. On some days, the waves will get better of you. I know that’s hard. You’re a proud and emotional man. That’s one of the things I’ve liked about you, actually. You’re more ‘human’ than ‘manager’.

But frankly Jose, ‘manager’ is your calling. You’re good at it. You’ve been the best, tasted every success there is to taste. You’ve been a great champion, a great winner. You’ve just got to learn how to lose.

Sincerely,

Fellow Chelsea fan