The reason I bring that up is because the media are really starting to annoy me of late with all these digs at Jose when he says “we are not favourites for the title” stating he is playing mind games. No he is not he is telling the truth, we are still building our team and City and Arsenal have built theirs over years and Man Utd were current champions. Jose has also stated it was not our objective to win the title this season which is also something I bought up before a ball was kicked this season. This season’s objective for me was top 4 and make sure we close the 14 point gap the champions had on us last season. This season we have seen a different Jose Mourinho, a calmer Jose and the media were even calling him out on that. This is a totally different man now and one who has worked in 2 different countries since he left us, one which is more mature and one who understands he has to change his approach a little bit because this is a job he has never had to do before which is build a legacy.
Now as we move onto the squad for me January 2014 will be looked back on as a defining month in the future success this club will have. Since AVB came in and started playing 4-2-3-1 I have lost count of the amount of times I have said “we are lacking a midfielder who can actually play in the 2 in a 4-2-3-1”. And although the club went back and re-signed a player we let go for 4 million the 21 million shelled out for Nemanja Matic may be looked back on in the future as one of the best purchases the club would have ever done.
One thing which Jose has done is improve every player especially the younger lads but one man seems to be his main project and that is Mr Eden Hazard. I made a bold opinion at the start of the season on Facebook which read “we have been blessed with some sensational footballers to play for this football club over many decades, but I think Hazard will go on to be on a totally different level to them all”. Nothing I have seen so far this season has made me change my mind and the man has been exceptional and will only get better. He was known as quite a lethargic trainer but Jose has worked on that and got him training as if playing a match so he trains like he plays and plays like he trains and that has helped with his consistency which is something we all wanted to see from him. The lack of striker issue is a little problem but I think Eto’o has been a decent buy, not prolific but offers the team a lot link up wise and seems to be a leader on the pitch too. This squads transition I believe will be completed in the summer when Lukaku comes back and we go out and sign another striker who I believe will be Diego Costa.
All in all I think the fact we are unbeaten against all the top sides this season including 6 points against most peoples favourites Man City, currently top of the league and still in the Champions League shows we are ahead of schedule. One thing is certain for me and that is this team will be very successful in years to come and hopefully its still Jose sailing this ship in 3 years time
UTC!
Thanks for reading
Carl Jackson
Add me on Twitter if you wish: @jacko_cfc