Claude Makelele’s grit in Chelsea’s midfield and ability to play a quick pass made him the fitting example of the ‘Claude Makelele’ role, whatever that means. It’s even been said that he’s managed to define the holding midfield position as much as Franz Beckenbauer the sweeper role. And he’s now cashing in on the footballer bio.
Makelele may have been adored at Stamford Bridge, but perhaps not so much anymore. Maybe it’s an attempt to sell hardcovers, or perhaps there’s some sort of perceived slight from Chelsea’s brave captain John Terry on the former French international while he played under Jose Mourinho in London. Undoubtedly, it’s an attempt to remain relevant at the end of his career, as any bio indicates.
Whatever the reason, much like Ashley Cole’s revelation that Cesc Fabregas was the main perpetrator in Pizzagate, Makalele’s decided to heap the culpability for Jose Mourinho’s departure from Chelsea on JT’s broad shoulders.
Apparently, Terry was unhappy with Mourinho’s assessment of his performance in the wake of back problems and went to chief executive Peter Kenyon to issue a transfer request. And this is where the word ‘talisman’ comes in. In owner Roman Abramovich’s mind, that was JT and not Mourinho, and the Portuguese was out.
Understandably, this may have simply been the inevitable outcome when two egos as large as Mourinho’s and Abramovich’s inhabit the same club. The notion that Mourinho left Stamford Bridge via ‘mutual consent’ was always hardly believable, but even the outspoken Mourinho had to filter his comments regarding the billionaire owner; he is a Russian oligarch after all.
It’s easy to label this as more celebrity footballer heresy, a tactic to sell books. But it isn’t hard to believe that what Makalele says is true. While Mourinho and Abramovich may have built Chelsea into the contender they are today, they also built a cult of personality around their players. Even Makelele was one, having ‘defined’ his eponymous role, and Frank Lampard and John Terry were the biggest of the heroes.
John Terry has endured a long career at Chelsea. He may only be 28, but his body has endured the abuse that can age a man, due to beginning his first team career early and his selfless attitude on the pitch. He’s the first man for Chelsea to put his body on the line for the good of the side. But at some point the hero worship must get to every player, and I’m sure one of the highest-paid at Chelsea isn’t immune to believing his own hype. Like all top center-halves, his experience will extend his career, but even the best are falliable.
Perhaps it was the end of a whirlwind ride for Jose Mourinho at Chelsea. Perhaps the itch was already there for the charismatic manager, and the rest of Europe beckoned anyway. But you have to wonder if there was a legacy there for the taking for the Blues and Mourinho. Since his departure, it’s been nothing but heartache for fans and there’s a certain aura surrounding Chelsea, epitomized by their loss to Barcelona in the Champions League.
It’s hard not to see a group of overpaid, overblown egos, from Didier Drogba to Ashley Cole, and yes, perhaps even the selfless captain. Makelele also blames Mourinho for ruining the camaraderie of the dressing room at the Bridge, going to show that despite being a sport of men, it’s a world of little boys, all getting their feelings hurt. Guus Hiddink may have the opportunity to end his time at the club with the satisfaction of a cup win today, but Chelsea remain a pilot-less ship.
[ESPN, Daily Mail, Times]
If true, this is another reason to dislike John Terry.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
Why am I not surprised. John Terry was the least capable choice for national team captain IMHO. But give credit to England for at least having a captain that can play unlike my country the USA whose captain probably makes the rest of the world laugh.
this is a terribly written article
John Terry is probably one of the least popular players in the world.
He’s not unpopular with his team-mates. He may be unpopular with jealous limp-wristed fairies who post on blogs. Oh and did you know this donkey who according to the soccer intelligentsia has been carried by Carvalho for years, who has been voted into just about every non-anglo international team of the year for 5years (non anglo because they don’t share the parochial bitterness and bias of epl fans), do you know how many fouls this past it thug commited against the world’s greatest team in the CL semis? Yes, zero.
Compare with the snob’s fave Vidic, he was terrific against them wasn’t he?*snigger*
On the substance of the article, this shows again, along with ancelotti’s book, the official bulls**t you get on a club and what’s REALLY happening is a bigger gap than the grand canyon. Shame they’re only honest when selling a book.
I’m sorry but facts are facts: Jose left / got pushed because he and Roman stopped getting along. Whether it was not winning the champions league or Jose feeling he had as much influence as the kit man when it came to some signings (Ballack, Shevchenko.) The alleged JT factor wouldn’t have helped but I doubt it was the main reason.
its been a whole day and no mention of chelsea winning the cup except theres this horrible pile of garbage written. lets just name this “man u talk”
Jdub, read the thread that started yesterday congratulating Chelsea’s win at http://www.epltalk.com/fa-cup-final-live-blog-everton-v-chelsea/7961#comment-50053
Cheers,
The Gaffer
It’s even been said that [Makelele]’s managed to define the holding midfield position as much as Franz Beckenbauer the sweeper role.
Of course, Nobby Stiles won a World Cup medal and a European Cup medal playing exactly the same way before Makelele was born….
oh, there I go again, thinking the game existed before 1993. Silly me :/
It was a pile of poop anyway.
“Terry also revealed that he had spoken to Jose Mourinho on Friday after Claude Makelele claimed, in his autobiography Tout Simplement, that the defender had fallen out with the manager because he was not being played often enough and that he had threatened to put in a transfer request. Makelele stated that this had helped Abramovich decide it was time to get rid of Mourinho.
“Funnily enough, Mourinho called me yesterday and we spoke about it,” Terry said of Makelele’s book. “It’s bizarre, actually, because he knows the real truth and, if anything, I was one of three players to be phoning Roman at 1am or 2am the night I heard Mourinho had been sacked to keep him on. Speaking to [chief executive] Peter Kenyon, speaking to Roman, speaking to Eugene [Tenenbaum, a Chelsea director] and hoping we could keep him. Myself, Lamps and Didier were all fighting to keep him. So it’s bizarre where it’s come from. I spoke with him [Mourinho] today and he’s totally fine with it. ”
While insisting that he did not have any say in Mourinho’s departure – “If I had that much power, I would have changed an awful lot of things at this football club an awfully long time ago” – Terry added that Hiddink’s time at Chelsea had shown that certain things needed to be improved upon. “Just little things that will make Chelsea Football Club better,” Terry said.
He also confirmed that Hiddink would continue to have a role, albeit an informal one. “I think he’ll have a big input, and a sit down with Roman Abramovich. They’re very close anyway. He’ll certainly tell Roman exactly what he feels, and rightly so. Hopefully those bad things at the football club will change but, as I say, it’s definitely not ‘goodbye’ to Guus. It’s the start of something.”
I tink roman was influencing mourinho’s signings which ofcourse mourinho hates