Atletico star: Mourinho’s press antics hurt players

Filipe Luis
Filipe Luis

Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis claims that Jose Mourinho’s management style, especially his outspoken comments in the media, leaves a detrimental effect on the squad. 

Luis, the former Chelsea left back, has accused Mourinho of occasionally making silly and absurd comments in the media, although he didn’t specify any particular instance. 

Mourinho is usually protective of his own players and has frequently employed distraction techniques – whether criticising the referees, aiming a dig at the opposition players / manager, getting involved with the Football governing bodies, after a defeat. But it seems, such tricks are not working anymore, with Chelsea having lost seven league games out of 12 already this season. 

The Portuguese has been critical of some his players, with the likes of Nemanja Matic, Eden Hazard and Ruben Loftus-Cheek being singled out for harsh treatments. Luis believes that Mourinho’s approach is damaging his own players, while such an abrasive approach does not always work. 

“Sometimes he’s right and sometimes he’s not. Sometimes people think what he says is absurd and sometimes they agree with him. It’s the way he is and the way he works – I see it as normal,” said Luis in an Exclusive interview to Yahoo Eurosport.

“He has his way of talking to the press, especially when the team loses, which can sometimes be damaging to certain players. Some players benefit from criticism but for others they don’t.”

Luis returned to Atletico in the summer after staying one year at Chelsea, where he only started nine Premier League matches and making five appearances in the Champions League.

The Brazilian sees his short stint with Chelsea as a personal success as he came away with a Premier League and League Cup winning medals, but he never really established himself as the first choice left back at the London club.  

“I didn’t have the chance to play in the first match of the league season and the opportunity to play in the first game is key for players at a new club,” Luis added. “That made everything more difficult.

“But I still consider my time with Chelsea as personal triumph. In one year I won two titles — one being the Premier League. I have a trophy at home that not many people have and in possibly the most competitive league in the world.”

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