Drogba open to Mourinho return

Posted Tuesday, March 13, 2012 by ESPN

Didier Drogba admitted it "would be fun" if Jose Mourinho returned to manage Chelsea.

The Portuguese, who won back-to-back Premier League titles with the London club in his first spell in charge at Stamford Bridge, has been linked with a return to the Blues following the sacking of compatriot Andre Villas-Boas last weekend.

Roberto Di Matteo has been placed in interim charge of Chelsea until the end of the season but Drogba appeared to welcome the idea of Real Madrid boss Mourinho coming back in the summer, while Chelsea captain John Terry described Mourinho as a "fantastic manager".

Drogba told Sky Sports News: "There is a lot of speculation - him (Mourinho), (Rafael) Benitez, all these managers. It would be nice (to have Mourinho back), it would be fun for the story. Let's see what happens."

Terry added: "It's all speculation at the moment, obviously he (Mourinho) was a fantastic manager and a very good man-manager as well. But Robbie (Di Matteo) has come in and brought Eddie Newton in as well and they're doing a great job, and the target really is to focus on the next two months and to get the club in the position we all want to be in which is (qualifying for the) Champions League next year."

Terry and Drogba insisted the senior players had given their backing to Villas-Boas and said claims that the squad veterans were a massive influence in the dressing room were wide of the mark.

"In all clubs, when players don't play, there's always misunderstandings and people upset about not being played," the former England captain said.

"I think because it's Chelsea, people have got this thing about the senior players, (that they) have got a massive influence and I can assure you that's not the case and it hasn't been since I've been at the football club.

"All the players care about Chelsea Football Club, the owner certainly does. Andre was very good - unfortunately we didn't get the results.

"Collectively, not only him, although unfortunately it falls on his head, I think the players and the manager will make mistakes together.

"We all wish him well, he's got a very good future. He's very young as well. This can be a learning experience for him and myself. I got on very well with him."

Drogba admitted Chelsea's players had to take their share of the blame for the results which led to Villas-Boas' dismissal.

"He was unlucky, the team was not in good shape. I think we, as players, could have done maybe better to change that, to avoid this happening. But that's life," he said.

Meanwhile, Juan Mata has urged Chelsea to follow Arsenal's example and tear into Napoli from the first minute in Wednesday's do-or-die Champions League clash.
Blues winger Mata dubbed this week's last-16 second leg a cup "final" and was adamant he and his team-mates could become one of only a handful of teams to overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit in the competition.

Some declared the tie over after Chelsea's 3-1 defeat in Naples almost three weeks ago, but Mata has taken inspiration from Arsenal nearly turning around a 4-0 loss against AC Milan on Tuesday as well as his own side's perfect European record at Stamford Bridge this season.

"In football, nothing is impossible,'' the 23-year-old said.

"At Stamford Bridge, this Champions League, we had good results in the group - 3-0, 2-0 and 5-0.

"All the supporters, for sure, will be cheering us.

"It's a final for us and I think we can do it."

Napoli's strengths and weaknesses were laid bare during their 6-3 Serie A win over Cagliari on Friday night.

Mata added: "From the first minute, we have to try to create chances to score.

"We know that they have very, very good strikers.

"We have to be careful with them but we are going to press them from the first minute.''

Caretaker manager Di Matteo has steadfastly refused to reveal whether he wants the job full-time but his brief stint certainly has not proven the "hell" Luiz Felipe Scolari last week warned awaited whoever succeeded Villas-Boas.

Asked if he was enjoying himself, Di Matteo said: "Yes, as much as I can!"
He added: "At this stage of the season, we have a job to do."

Di Matteo's first task was boosting the confidence of a side whose season was under real threat of unravelling completely in the final days of Villas-Boas' reign.

He said: "We are all human beings - it affects you. We can now look at two games, three goals, two clean sheets.

"I think with every win you gain a little bit of confidence and belief.

"They are fantastic players and you just have to perfect winning the games and the belief will come back, and I'm sure we'll have better games as well."