Friday, September 21, 2007

Drogba is used to reducing opposition defences to quivering wrecks. But he broke down in tears after Jose Mourinho hugged him like a son.The changing room is usually a hub of noise and banter on any morning.Drogba will hog the stereo system to play his rap music while the rest get changed and warm up for their session.

This time the only sound was silence.Mourinho had told two of his team he would drop by just after 10 o’clock and collect his belongings before going to say goodbye to ‘his family.’Nobody was late and barely a word was said as they waited for him.

A couple of the senior players remembered the day Claudio Ranieri made the same journey to the old training ground. They recalled the sickness in their stomach at the knowledge they were losing someone they loved and respected.

Chelsea has changed almost unrecognisably since. The way the players feel about Mourinho is incomparable.When he stepped into the dressing room every player was by his usual change station.Some tried to greet him but his body language said that he would do the talking.Without any fuss, he moved towards one side of the room to speak to the players.

Belletti was one of the first.In Portuguese, Mourinho spoke warmly of his performances and wished him luck. One by one, Mourinho moved around the rectangular room speaking to each of the players and thanking them for their work.

With some like Petr Cech and Ricardo Carvalho he put his hands on their face and reminded them of shared glory.Mourinho told them how proud he was of what they had achieved and asked that they pass on his best wishes to their family.

Others were not treated with such kindness. Shevchenko was offered a handshake which, according to one member of staff, could have frozen a mug of tea.

And then Didi.He smiled but there was nothing in his look to suggest this was happiness.Mourinho put his hands on the player’s arms and spoke a little louder as if he wanted some people to hear his words.

“You are one of the best strikers in the world and you have made yourself into one of the best players,” Mourinho told him. “I am very proud of you, Didi and you should be proud of yourself.You have worked hard and you are a winner. Always remember you are a winner.”

Mourinho then put his arms around the hitman and hugged him like a departing father. As he moved on, Drogba broke down in tears.Mourinho continued his circuit but only repeated the kind of praise he had for Drogba when he embraced Frank Lampard.

Once again, there was silence save for Florent Malouda who had put his arm around Drogba to comfort him.

Chief executive Peter Kenyon had the unenviable task of following Mourinho in to address the players. He began to try and explain the past couple of days but quickly realised his audience were not interested in who was replacing their leader.

Their loyalty to Mourinho — unlike Chelsea’s — was never in question. To his players, he will always be Special.