Jose Mourinho's motivational skills set him apart as a manager, says the former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, who played for the Portuguese in two seasons at the London club, including the 2005/06 Premier League championship campaign.
“Mourinho is a special manager,” said Wright-Phillips, who now plays for Queens Park Rangers. “He was the one who brought me to Chelsea and it was incredible what a team he built there.
“He is the best there is.
“The special thing about him is his motivational skills and how he used to mentally psych us before going into the games. He made us feel we are better than we actually were.
“He turned players like Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Ashley Cole into the best players in the league and in Europe.
“I can’t remember which game it was, but we were down at half time, and for 15 minutes during half time, he made us feel we could go out there and get the win, and we did, that’s why he is the Special One. He makes you believe.”
Having played for both Chelsea and Manchester City, Wright-Phillips will be happy for either club to win the Premier League title this season.
“It’s a tough one to call; City and Chelsea are neck to neck this season, so I don’t really know. Liverpool have done massively well, and they can finish strongly and push Chelsea and Man City, but I think it’s between them.”
He said he expects Cole to regain his place from Cesar Azpilicueta in the Chelsea line-up.
“I don’t know what’s been going on at Stamford Bridge, to be honest, but all I can say is Ashley is the best left-back in England, without a doubt,” he said. “We will surely see more of him.
“Cole is still the best. He will surely go to the World Cup; you don’t get 100 caps without being a very good player. I think Roy [Hodgson] will opt for Cole because of his tournament experience.”
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