The hype is over, so it must be time for the hype.
It’s only fair that a man who wrote a book which is partially an open love letter to Jose should pen a few words about his return. How will I feel when I see him in the other dug out? A little sad because as anyone who has read anything I have written in the last 18 months knows I think that he should have stayed and the players should have gone. That’s a little simplistic and something which would never happen in this modern era, but my view anyway.
I think the club were wrong to let him go at the time they did. The position was compounded by the employment of Guus Hiddink who spent 7 months “saving” us from relegation and churning out some seriously dull football. I will not mention that we also lost a huge opportunity to blood youngsters but that is all in the past (oh I just did).
Following Monday night Jose’s start has been solid but certainly not spectacular. I suspect that he wold have liked to have been looking down on us when he arrived at the Bridge but he cannot. The display away in Merseyside is was what he does best. As a fan you admire it, as a neutral you endure it. Neutrality when it comes to him is something I find hard to adopt. I am a Jose fan and the Premier league is always a duller place without him.
For us habitual Jose watchers the blame game has started unusually early. The digging out of his players so early into his tenure was unusual to an extent but against Man City it was his classic diversionary tactic when he wanted to deflect from being outcoached by Pep.
We all know that social media is no barometer for “normal” behaviour but I have been saddened by the abuse he has had so far. I understand the upset of him going to a “rival” but let’s be fair he didn’t sack himself. To expect him to sit on his hands and not manage again in this country is naïve. In addition I can think of at least three other teams that I am extremely thankful he didn’t go to. I’ve read that he “ruined us” and left us bereft of a decent squad. Well the vast majority of players on show on Saturday were his players. The sales are a mystery and undoubtedly the sale of DeBruyne one of the worst bits of business in Premier league history but we still won the league that year.
I’ve seen comments that any respect for him is currently in storage. Why? We as a club have been going for 111 years we have won the league 5 times and he was our manager for 3 of them. Perspective people. We as a club respect our own. Our treatment of ex-players is on the whole good. Just witness the games in which Cech and Fabregas play in. There are a few exceptions when we are not perfect but on the whole we are pretty good.
I do not want to see or hear what went on when Frank played against us for City where his name was sung from the rafters during the game and even after he scored against us. I know we very rarely get to say good bye and thank you to these guys but that occasion was over the top. Before and possibly after for Jose.
My upset at seeing Jose wearing the opposition colours will be seriously soothed by the sight of our current manager. It’s a long time since I walked out of Stamford Bridge feeling as satisfied with so many things as I did after the Leicester game. A clinical victory against a good team. Fantastic performances from players who have recently struggled. It’s difficult to know where to start but I am going to praise the most recent whipping boy.
By all accounts Conte spent a lot of time trying to persuade Matic to stay during the summer and I for one am glad he did. For me he has played well this season. 
Yes he’s had some performances which were not so good but on the whole he is looking more like his old self and his partnership with Kante is flourishing with both players interchanging and covering for each other.
Then there is Victor Moses. I have been an absolute snob when it has come to his performances. I have begrudgingly accepted he has played well and deserves his chance. The decision to send him out on loan last season when he was the only one who looked fit in pre-season was bizarre to say the least. I have not wanted to accept that he is what we need, there is no doubt however that he has done really well in the last two games. There has been little to do defensively but credit where it is due. His speed is a real fillip to the team and what Conte is trying to do
Up front Diego has been magnificent. Never mind his goal, his tireless running in the second half was admirable up until his spat with Conte. He is forgiven but I am slightly concerned with the complete lack of game time for the Batman who was spotted watching Marseille at the weekend. Whilst I do not want to believe the rumours that he may be going back there on loan in January, Conte’s refusal to use him when games have been won is hopefully more to do with his Italian lock up shop mentality than anything else.
We then had the youth, cameo appearances but minutes on the pitch nonetheless. One would have to say that Chalobah looks the part and I predict he will be in the starting 11 by the end of the season and not just because of that flick!
There are not enough superlatives for Kante. The pathetic booing of him by albeit a small minority of Leicester fans was very sad. His purchase was brilliant. I hope we can match his ambition. Players of his ability come along once in a generation.
It would be remiss of me not to mention David Luiz. He was masterful in the game. He marshalled our defence and organised a very twitchy Gary Cahill. He told everyone what to do and was Conte’s mouthpiece on the pitch. He is the perfect footballer for playing in a back three and the sooner he is made the captain when JT is not playing the better
I know that the opposition in the last two games have not been the best and there are bigger tests ahead but I am really excited by what our manager is trying to do. When I saw the stories midweek of his possible departure the last thing I thought of was he was going to be sacked but I was less sure that having spent some time with us he may have wanted out. That hopefully is not the case and he can be allowed to bring in his players and if necessary his staff.
So on Sunday win or lose, please leave the boos at home and welcome back one of the real heroes in the club’s history.
Clayton Beerman
@goalie59
Author of “Palpable Discord. A Year of drama and dissent at Chelsea” Published by Gate 17
http://goo.gl/bz1EVT
Podder and blogger for The Chelsea Fancast
