Soccer

Abramovich tells Chelsea players to turn things around

Jose Mourinho returned to Cobham to collect the last of his things before leaving

The way they were – Jose Mourinho with Roman Abramovich in 2004 during the manager’s first period at Stamford Bridge. Photo: Phil Cole/Getty Images
The way they were – Jose Mourinho with Roman Abramovich in 2004 during the manager’s first period at Stamford Bridge. Photo: Phil Cole/Getty Images
David Hytner
Sat Dec 19 2015 - 01:00

Roman Abramovich told Chelsea's first-team players they needed to take responsibility for redeeming their dismal season, as the club prepared to welcome Guus Hiddink as the caretaker successor to the sacked Jose Mourinho.

Abramovich visited the training ground in Cobham yesterday and the owner delivered a short speech to the squad, in which he also said it had been a difficult decision to dismiss Mourinho. In the end, though, Abramovich felt he had no choice, given the disintegration in the team’s form. They go into Saturday’s home game against Sunderland only one point above the relegation places.

It has also emerged that Eva Carneiro, the former Chelsea team doctor, will continue her personal legal action against Mourinho for victimisation and discrimination even though he has left the club. Carneiro is claiming constructive dismissal against Chelsea and she has a separate but connected case against Mourinho.

The constructive dismissal claim includes the possibility of Carneiro being reinstated if Mourinho left the club but no moves have yet been made to explore that. Chelsea have filed a defence in preparation for an initial hearing at a tribunal in Croydon on January 6th.

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Hiddink, who enjoyed a successful caretaker spell at Chelsea in 2009 following Luiz Felipe Scolari’s dismissal, flew into London yesterday morning to finalise his return to the club. He is expected to be in the stands for the Sunderland game, rather than being in charge of the team.

That will be left to Steve Holland, the assistant coach, and Eddie Newton, who is overseeing the development of the club’s loan players. They took yesterday’s training session.

Mourinho was also at Cobham, having popped back to collect the last of his things and say a few more goodbyes. It is unclear whether he encountered Abramovich, who was not there on Thursday to sack him in person. Abramovich delegated the task to the chairman, Bruce Buck, and the director, Eugene Tenenbaum.

Mourinho's dismissal was again the major talking point of the day, with managers across the country saying he would be a loss to the Premier League. He also heard some of his former players pay tribute to him, most effusively the captain, John Terry.

Terry posted a photograph on Instagram of himself and Mourinho with their arms around each other, and wrote: “Thank you doesn’t seem enough. Sad sad day. Gonna miss you Boss. The Very Best I have EVER worked with, unbelievable memories together. #boss #friend #specialone #bestever.”

The midfielder Cesc Fabregas said: “Thank you for all you have done for me. I owe you a lot and we will all miss you. Good luck in the future.”

Guardian Service