The former Nigerian international and Chelsea’s current Sporting Director has revealed why the club made the decision to axe the former Real Madrid manager. Jose Mourinho was fired on Thursday afternoon after a ten-minute meeting with the Chairman, Bruce Buck, and director, Eugene Tenenbaum.
Michael Emenalo, a close confidant of owner Roman Abrahamovic, has revealed that Jose Mourinho was sacked because of a “palpable discord with the players”.
The former Super Eagles defender made the revelation on Chelsea TV moments after the Portuguese was shown the exit door.
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| Michael and Mourinho |
“While there is huge sentiment for the individual who has done so much for the club, the fact of the matter remains that Chelsea football club is in trouble. The results are not good. There obviously seemed to be a palpable discord between manager and players, and we feel it was time to act.”
Critics have quickly pointed accusing fingers at some Chelsea stars and when asked about the role the players had in the manager’s dismissal, Emenalo said, “The same people need to remember this is essentially the same group of players who won the league and the League Cup last season. They did it in style. They did it by showing commitment, and sweat and blood, and tears and blood for the club when needed.”
Emenalo backed the players to show their quality despite the exit of ‘the Special One’. They played to instruction. They adhered to everything that the manager asked them to do. It’s very easy to make that kind of inference but it’s not one that the club accepts. Obviously we know now that the players have a responsibility to go out and prove everyone wrong and show a certain level of commitment to the decision that has been made tonight. To try to get the club up the league table. That’s what they have to do. That’s what they’re supposed to do. I believe that’s what they’ve been trying to do.
Mourinho could receive a possible £10million pay-out due to his four-year contract.
