Jose Mourinho Will Get Chelsea Players On Side, Says Jamie Redknapp

Jamie Redknapp expects Jose Mourinho's second stint as Chelsea boss to be short but successful.

Mourinho, 50, has penned a four-season deal to return to Stamford Bridge, six years after his initial spell in charge, which yielded two Premier League titles, two League Cup crowns and an FA Cup, came to an end.

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Sky Sports pundit Redknapp does not reckon the Portuguese, who managed Real Madrid for the final time against Osasuna at the weekend, will build a long legacy in West London, but says the former Inter Milan and Porto chief is the perfect appointment.

"I don't think this one is going to be a long-term marriage, more of an affair, but Mourinho will come in and make a real impact."

Jamie Redknapp

"I believe in continuity but we have to accept that managing for two or three years, like they do in Europe, is the future," the ex-Liverpool midfielder told Sky Sports News. "But Jose is ideal for this and I am not surprised they have gone back to him.

"I don't think this is going to be a long-term marriage, more of an affair, but he will come in and make a real impact.

"He was the obvious choice because he knows [Roman] Abramovich and while there was acrimony before I think they are on good terms now.

"Plus, there weren't a great deal of other options out there; Manchester City have seemingly gone for Manuel Pellegrini who after some success at Malaga has become the manager everyone wants, yet he had a pretty barren run before that and didn't win any trophies."

Engaging

Mourinho fell out with a section of the Real Madrid playing staff this season, most notably goalkeeping stalwart Iker Casillas, but Redknapp believes Chelsea's squad will relish playing under a man that has two Champions League titles to his name.

And the ex-England star thinks that if the Blues supplement their array of creative midfielders with a proven frontman, they can win the Premier League next season for the first time since 2010.

The best of Jose Mourinho

"Mourinho is box office," added Redknapp. "He makes headlines and polarises opinion, but I've always found him thoroughly engaging and the sort of manager that as a player you want to play for, because he is a winner.

"He argued with two or three of the big-name players at Real Madrid, but at Porto, Inter Milan and Chelsea, the players loved him; he brings the best out of players because he's almost like a psychologist.

"I am sure Chelsea will be investing in the team, but let's not forget they have some great players in Oscar, Juan Mata, and Eden Hazard, so they are a team that is ready, not one in transition.

"And even though the landscape has changed and they can't bully the market anymore because of Man City's wealth, I think they are a centre-forward away from winning the Premier League."



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