Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's tirade at Ruben Loftus-Cheek is nothing new... but the big boss normally wins player battles

Delicacy has never been a trait associated with Jose Mourinho. The deficiencies of his players, much like opposing managers, are sugar-coated for nobody. With history as our witness, the Chelsea manager bears no qualms in upsetting some of the most high profile figures in the game.

So it came as absolutely no surprise when the Portuguese launched into an impassioned, and ultimately scathing, critique of Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s defensive display on tour for the Blues.

The 19-year-old is seen as the future at Stamford Bridge, but that matters not to Mourinho, who found himself flummoxed at the midfielder’s lack of workrate in a friendly win against Sydney.

Chelsea youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek (left) failed to impress when given playing time against Sydney

Chelsea youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek (left) failed to impress when given playing time against Sydney

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was less than happy with Loftus-Cheeks effort at the ANZ Stadium on Tuesday

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was less than happy with Loftus-Cheeks effort at the ANZ Stadium on Tuesday

'(Loftus-Cheek) was saying he had a pain in his back,' Mourinho said. 'But what I was feeling was that he only had this pain when Sydney had the ball.


'When Chelsea had the ball I never saw a pain in his back. When Chelsea had the ball he was playing very, very well.

'But when Sydney had the ball I think he was more impressed by watching (John Obi) Mikel and (Nemanja) Matic work, instead of himself.

'With Ruben, it is one step back in my relations with him. If he doesn’t know what it is to play for me and Chelsea, it’s one step back.'

This is by no means the first time Mourinho has opted to harangue a member of his squad publicly, and the overt criticism has, on the whole, served him well in the past. Sportsmail takes a look at some of the more memorable examples over a 15-year career.

JOE COLE, CHELSEA - 2004

'He has a lot to learn. I think he has two faces - one beautiful and one I don't like,’ Mourinho said after Cole netted a winner against Liverpool in 2004. ‘He must keep one and change the other one. Joe Cole scored a goal which was very important. He played really well in terms of attacking dynamism. When he scored the goal the game finished for him. After that I needed 11 players for my defensive organisation and I had just 10.'

Cole immediately came out to say there was more to come from him and went on to become a crucial cog as Chelsea won the Premier League and Carling Cup, reaching the Champions League semi-final but eventually going down to that Luis Garcia goal that still rankles today.

Joe Cole scores the winner for Chelsea as they overcame Liverpool in 2004, but Mourinho wasn't happy

Joe Cole scores the winner for Chelsea as they overcame Liverpool in 2004, but Mourinho wasn't happy

Ricardo Carvalho improved after criticism in 2005

Ricardo Carvalho improved after criticism in 2005

RICARDO CARVALHO, CHELSEA - 2005

Ricardo Carvalho wasn’t happy about being left out of the 2005-06 Premier League curtain raiser at Wigan, criticising his manager for the snub after that win. It did not go down well.

'Ricardo seems to have problems understanding things, maybe he should have an IQ test, or go to a mental hospital or something.

‘He has worked with me for four years [at Porto] and I do not understand these quotes, he probably needs to see a doctor.’

Whether he went to his GP or not, Carvalho didn’t play until mid-September against Anderlecht in the Champions League. Typically, he impressed and was a mainstay in that League victory.

RICARDO QUARESMA, INTER MILAN - 2008

After contributing towards the winner on debut for Inter against Catania, Mourinho said: ‘He is a great talent, but the joy I have at seeing the way [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic works for and with the team I do not yet have with Quaresma. He will have to learn, otherwise he won’t play.’

He didn’t learn. So Mourinho didn’t play him. Quaresma was loaned to Chelsea no less, and was starved of games on return before the manager left for Real Madrid. Inter shipped the player off to Besiktas weeks later in any case.

Ricardo Quaresma endured a torrid time while playing under Mourinho at Inter Milan from 2008

CRISTIANO RONALDO, REAL MADRID – 2012

The relationship between Ronaldo and Mourinho appeared to be forever strained. The attacker wasn’t keen on having instructions, and often criticism, bellowed out to him; the boss not pleased with that being ignored.

‘When I criticised him from a tactical point of view so he could improve, he did not accept what I had to say,’ Mourinho said after leaving Real Madrid.

And what was a deciding factor in leaving the Bernabeu? Exactly that.

Cristiano Ronaldo's relationship with Mourinho steadily deteriorated while the latter was at Real Madrid 

Cristiano Ronaldo's relationship with Mourinho steadily deteriorated while the latter was at Real Madrid 

PEPE, REAL MADRID – 2013

With Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos being the chosen pairing at the heart of Real Madrid’s defence, Pepe felt marginalised. He spoke out about his dropping and the treatment of Iker Casillas, who lost the No 1 spot to Diego Lopez.

But, amid calls from Florentino Perez for unity, Mourinho refused to back down.

‘His [Pepe] problem has a name: Raphael Varane. It's not easy for a man of 31 years, with status and history, to be trampled over by a kid of 19,’ he said.

Pepe has gone from strength to strength since Mourinho departed Real Madrid back in 2013

Pepe has gone from strength to strength since Mourinho departed Real Madrid back in 2013

Mourinho's inability to united the Real Madrid squad ended up being his undoing in the Spanish capital

Mourinho's inability to united the Real Madrid squad ended up being his undoing in the Spanish capital

‘But that's the law of life. On a sporting level Pepe's life has changed.

‘I have no problem with him. I understand that it's not an easy situation but I have to try to be honest and I think that there are very few people who don't think that the future of Real Madrid in defence is Varane with Sergio Ramos.’

Pepe hasn’t looked back since – starting every game for which he’s available – and clinched the Champions League in the process. Mourinho’s capital downfall was the deterioration of morale and respect.

JUAN MATA, CHELSEA - 2013

'I understand that lots of people like very much Mata and believe that he should be in that position,’ Mourinho said in September 2013. Mata had started just two games all season and he explained why.

‘I believe the evolution of the team is to play with Oscar and Mata together, but one has to adapt for that to happen.

Mourinho didn't believe that Mata was capable of adapting his game alongside Oscar for Chelsea 

Mourinho didn't believe that Mata was capable of adapting his game alongside Oscar for Chelsea 

There was an outpouring of emotion when Mata was allowed to leave Stamford Bridge in January 2013

There was an outpouring of emotion when Mata was allowed to leave Stamford Bridge in January 2013

Manchester United, led by David Moyes, ended up splurging £37.1million on the Spanish playmaker

Manchester United, led by David Moyes, ended up splurging £37.1million on the Spanish playmaker

'Oscar as a number 10 gives us creativity, but when we want to press, Oscar is a runner and we have our idea. We stick with our idea. I respect you a lot. The Chelsea manager is Jose Mourinho.

'Juan has to learn to play the way I want to play. He has to be more consistent, has to be more participative when the team loses the ball, and I think it is not his fault. It is just a consequence of the way he played in the last few years.'

Chelsea pocketed £37.1million from Manchester United not six months later, with Oscar flourishing. It hasn’t looked such a bad decision.

KEVIN DE BRUYNE, CHELSEA - 2013

'With Kevin, I didn't like the match he played against Swindon [in the Capital One Cup], and I didn't like the way he was training.’

De Bruyne was sent to train with the Under 21s.

‘The next time Kevin is on the pitch, he has to think he’s playing for his next appearance. At Werder Bremen [on loan the previous season] he played every game. Here he’s not playing every game. In Bremen he didn’t need to prove himself so much. This is a different reality. He’s competing against very good players, so every minute he’s on the pitch he has to work really hard.’

As it stands, Mourinho snap call on De Bruyne – he had started two Premier League games before moving to Wolfsburg for £18m – could still go one of two ways, but he has certainly impressed hugely in Germany during a blistering first season.

Kevin De Bruyne has become a talismanic figure for Wolfsburg since leaving Chelsea last summer

Kevin De Bruyne has become a talismanic figure for Wolfsburg since leaving Chelsea last summer

EDEN HAZARD, CHELSEA – 2014

Hazard had appeared to criticise Mourinho’s tactics in Champions League defeat against Atletico Madrid, which was met with a stinging response.

'It's normal because he's not the kind of player ready to sacrifice himself 100 per cent for the team and for his mates,’ was the retort.

'Eden is the kind of player who is not so mentally ready to look back at his left-back and live his life for him. Normally you get this kind of comment from players like him: from players who can't resolve a problem like we had with the first goal. If you see the first goal, you understand where the mistake was and why we conceded.’

The result? His best season to date, PFA Player of the Year award and a willingness to run all day.

Eden Hazard was awarded the PFA Player of the Year at a glitzy bash in central London in April

Eden Hazard was awarded the PFA Player of the Year at a glitzy bash in central London in April

ANDRE SCHURRLE, CHELSEA – 2014

Schurrle wasn’t the same forward as the man so integral in Germany’s World Cup victory months before and, after struggling to impose himself on League Two Shrewsbury Town in the Capital One Cup, was given a very distinct message.

‘If players that played 90 minutes two days ago were fantastic, I expect people who are not playing a lot to raise the level to create me problems.

‘I love problems of choices, and it is easy to choose my team for Saturday [against QPR].’

That ought to have served as a Mourinho warning, but he started just one Premier League game before being sold, rather expensively, to Wolfsburg.

Andre Schurrle looked lost for Chelsea after returning a World Cup winner with Germany 

Andre Schurrle looked lost for Chelsea after returning a World Cup winner with Germany 

OSCAR, CHELSEA - 2015

'No, I don’t think he had a bad performance, I just think he was not good enough, which is a huge difference,’ was the withering response to Oscar’s performance against Stoke at the start of April. He didn’t play a part in any of the final five games this season but is said to have had a niggling thigh injury, ruled out of the Copa America.

It remains to be seen how the Brazilian responds come August.

Brazilian midfielder Oscar was criticised by Mourinho after the win against Stoke earlier this season

Brazilian midfielder Oscar was criticised by Mourinho after the win against Stoke earlier this season

 

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