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John Obi Mikel reveals the nickname Chelsea players had for Jose Mourinho that was used only when they lost
Jose Mourinho is one of the greatest managers Chelsea have ever had.
The Portuguese tactician announced himself as the ‘special one’ when he became the Blues boss back in 2004, and he delivered right away.
Chelsea won the Premier League title in each of his first two seasons at the club, and he is a legend to the fans even to this day.
But, when his side lost, Mourinho wasn’t as friendly to the players as they would’ve liked.
What Chelsea players used to call Jose Mourinho when they lost
Chelsea were absolutely phenomenal in Jose Mourinho’s first season at the club.
The Blues lost just one game in the Premier League all season and finished the campaign with 95 points, 12 above second-placed Arsenal.
In his second campaign, Chelsea lost five games in the league, but they still managed to defend their crown.
That is why Mourinho is so highly rated by Chelsea supporters, and almost every player who played under him loves him as well.
John Obi Mikel was one of them, and the Nigerian midfielder has now shared an insight into how his old boss was after defeats.
When Andy Goldstein asked if Chelsea players had a nickname for Mourinho that he wasn’t aware of, Mikel said on talkSPORT: “No, sometimes we called him ‘grumpy’, but that was only when we weren’t winning, which was very rarely.
“I’m talking about when we lost one game and he doesn’t show up in the training ground. He stays upstairs and is not coming down to the training ground.
“He’s looking at us from upstairs and thinking: ‘You lot better go out at the weekend again and win before I come down and say ‘hi’ to you guys!'”
Jose Mourinho doesn’t like what Michael Essien calls him
Mourinho has managed a number of players from Africa over the years.
Mikel was one himself, while the likes of Didier Drogba and Michael Essien were phenomenal under him at Chelsea as well.
The African players absolutely love Mourinho, but the Special One is not too big a fan of what Essien calls him.
“Many of them, they call me daddy and some of them, they are almost my age,” Mourinho said on .
“When Essien calls me daddy, I say: ‘Michael, come on, don’t call me daddy, you’re almost my age.”