Sacked Grant dubbed a 'loser' by Mourinho
He couldn't possibly return could he? In the wake of Chelsea's European Cup defeat - and the announcement yesterday that Avram Grant has been fired - up pops Jose Mourinho to denounce Grant as "a loser" and to reveal that the Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, has gifted him a rare Ferarri worth almost £2million.
Asked if Chelsea's campaign had been the good one Grant depicted it as, Mourinho said: 'That depends on your philosophy of leadership. In my philosophy it was a very bad one because in football "almost" means defeat and Chelsea almost won the Carling Cup, almost won the Champions League, and almost won the Premier League. Almost is nothing.
'After two titles per season for the last three years there were zero titles this season, which in my philosophy means a really bad season. Maybe in the philosophy of a loser this was a great season, which I respect.'
Now, of course, Mourinho is being slightly dishonest here as Grant managed to get Chelsea into the Champion's League final, a feat which always remained beyond his good self. But the comment that "I still think of them as my boys", and the astonishing news that Abramovich is sending him expensive gifts, leaves the door open for one of the most audacious returns in the history of the game.'The best team lost the Champions League final, like last season the best team lost the Champions League semi-final,' Mourinho said. 'That is football. I have always said that details make the difference at this level - and luck is a really big detail.
'I am very sad about what happened. In the last two years this team lost a Champions League final and a Champions League semi-final on penalties. The supporters deserve more, Roman and the board deserve more, top people like [Frank] Lampard, [Michael] Essien, [Claude] Makelele, Ashley [Cole], Didier [Drogba], [Ricardo] Carvalho, [and coaches] Steve Clarke, Mick McGiven and some others deserve happiness. I still think of them as my boys.
The chances of Mourinho returning as Chelsea manager have increased significantly in recent weeks. Mourinho was astounded when Chelsea director Eugene Tenenbaum called in February to inform him that Abramovich had purchased a rare Ferrari for the man he had removed from Stamford Bridge five months previously.
Customised specially for Mourinho, the 612 Scaglietti was one of just 60 produced to commemorate Ferrari's 60th anniversary. While still at Chelsea, Mourinho had told Abramovich that if he could have his choice of cars, the four-seat Scaglietti would be it. The list price is around £250,000, but such is its rarity the secondary-market value is as much as eight times that amount.
Abramovich's gift was made at a time at which he had begun to consider replacing Grant as manager, with Mourinho's name raised as a potential appointment.
Mourinho was one of the most annoying men who ever managed a football team. He never, ever, lost with any grace and always - at the end of any game in which he was defeated - would give a ridiculous account of why his team actually had won, despite the score sheet telling a completely different story.
But, for all that, he was a character. And the English Premier League has been a duller place since his departure. So, I, for one, would reluctantly welcome the old codger's return. If only because hating him always added something to the passion I felt about the Premiership.
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