Jose Mourinho revelled in "my moment" after Chelsea's fans made their support for their embattled manager clear in a potentially crucial Champions League victory over Dynamo Kiev.
The adulation poured down from the stands on the self-proclaimed Special One, whose position appears perilous, and his Chelsea side eked out an unconvincing 2-1 win to ease the pressure a little.
Willian struck a decisive free-kick after Aleksandar Dragovic had cancelled out his own goal with a strike against the Blues.
Mourinho, who is in the worst period of two spells at Chelsea, compared the support favourably to his return in August 2013, when he was acclaimed by the partisan crowd.
"This is my moment, because it was amazing," Mourinho said.
"The moment I came back to the club and we played the first match at home against Hull City, the way the stadium welcomed me was amazing, but not comparable with today."
"Today comes in a moment where the results are not good, it comes in a moment where you (the media) are asking for my end (sacking).
"The fans read newspapers, they watch TV, they listen to pundits', commentators' opinions, they read blogs and it's quite unbelievable what they tried to say today.
"They tried to say, 'we want you here' and probably they also want to say to all of you 'we want him, let him work'. It's a fantastic feeling.
"I don't have another way to thank them than by giving everything I have, which I have always, which I will do always.
"It's the only way to thank them for this reaction."
Mourinho's side won for just a second time in six matches since he was subject of the first vote of confidence of Roman Abramovich's 12-year ownership on October 5.
The second win leaves their Group G fate in their own hands ahead of a trip to Maccabi Tel-Aviv and home clash with Porto, Mourinho's former club.
Mourinho's popularity was never in doubt, with supporters showing unwavering faith, but results needed to turn and still do.
The 52-year-old Portuguese praised the supporters for sticking with Chelsea through the bad times, which come less than six months after winning the Premier League title.
Yet Saturday's Premier League clash at Stoke could still be crucial for Mourinho's future as the Blues have six defeats in 11 league games to sit 15th in the table.
"It's an amazing feeling for the club to know that the fans are in the good moments and the bad moments," Mourinho added.
"In the good moments you see the street full of people celebrating with the bus. That's easy. It's easy for kids to go to school with a Chelsea shirt when Chelsea win every match.
"It's not easy for kids 10, 12 years old to go to school with a Chelsea shirt when Chelsea are losing matches. Probably they are bullied by other kids."
No comments:
Post a Comment
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the comment writers alone and does not reflect or represent the views of Ochuko Arhiakpore.
+2348176236720
Leave a comment