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SPECIAL ONES

Jose Mourinho has named his best XI without any Man United or Spurs players

Jose Mourinho has caused uproar despite the fact we have been without football for nearly three weeks.

The Portuguese manager has snubbed both Manchester United and, more surprisingly, his current Spurs players from his best XI.

Let’s get the tweezers out and try to make sense of the Special One’s special eleven.

Goalkeeper – Petr Cech (Chelsea)

The pair’s heyday

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The pair’s heyday

There can be little debate that the Czech shot-stopper was one of the best goalkeepers in the world for around a decade.

In Mourinho’s first season at The Bridge, The Blues conceded just 15 goals in 38 Premier League games and only eight from open play.

Cech was eventually left out by Jose in his second stint at the club with Thibaut Courtois being the preferred option between the sticks.

Iker Casillas was never going to be in contention here, was he?

Left Back – William Gallas (Chelsea)

That doesn’t look like Ashley Cole

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That doesn’t look like Ashley Cole

Yep, really.

Gallas played 28 times in Chelsea’s record-breaking 2004-05 season, with his efforts largely going under the radar.

His inclusion is certainly an eye-brow raiser when you look at who Mourinho overlooked when picking the Frenchman.

Ashley Cole and Marcelo are largely considered two of the best left-backs of their generation but clearly not by The Special One who preferred Gallas.

The ‘centre back’ once said this of the pair’s relationship: “He likes me as a player and as a person, and the feeling is mutual.”

Centre back – John Terry (Chelsea)

Terry played every game in the 2015 title-winning season

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Terry played every game in the 2015 title-winning season

Terry, much like Cech, is an unsurprising name on this list.

Mr Chelsea was the teacher’s pet under Mourinho and the pair are still seemingly very close.

The former England captain was the rock at the heart of what was arguably the Premier League’s best ever defence and the perfect player for a Mourinho side.

Centre back – Ricardo Carvalho (Porto, Chelsea, Real Madrid)

Always take Ricardo with you

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Always take Ricardo with you

Carvalho was one of those player Jose couldn’t seem to get enough of.

He was no-nonsense at the back and could drive with the ball from deep to start attacks.

Mourinho won the Champions League with him at Porto, two Premier League’s with him at Chelsea before signing him with Real Madrid in 2010.

He must have done something right to leave the likes of Sergio Ramos, Lucio and Pepe out of this team.

Right back – Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan)

Inter’s G.O.A.T

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Inter’s G.O.A.T

Predominantly a left back, Inter’s captain clearly had to be in this side for Mourinho.

Captain of Inter 14 years and considered one of the Milan side’s greatest ever players.

Zanetti was the go-to man for the Special One in his two seasons with the club and was integral to their famous Champions League win.

Position aside, there can’t be any complaints about this one.

Central midfielder – Claude Makelele (Chelsea)

Trademark Makelele

AFP
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Trademark Makelele

A midfielder who barely goes past the centre circle? A Mourinho dream.

The little Frenchman was such a rock for Chelsea during his time at the club and understandably the kind of player Jose would have loved.

His inclusion means there is no room for Michael Essien which is a surprise considering the Ghanaian still calls Mourinho his ‘white daddy.’

Central midfielder – Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

Life comes at you fast

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Life comes at you fast

Mourinho once claimed he ‘loved’ the now Chelsea boss and after the work they did together for Chelsea, that is hardly a surprise.

Lampard chipped in with 29 goals in the 2005 and 2006 title-winning campaigns, famously scoring the two goals at Bolton to win Chelsea their first League title in 50 years.

He pipped the likes of Kaka and Wesley Sneijder to the centre mid position, hardly a shock as Mourinho called him ‘the best midfielder in the world’ back in 2006.

Right wing – Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid)

Jose signed the youngster at Real Madrid

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Jose signed the youngster at Real Madrid

It is easy to forget what a player the German was at Real Madrid.

He registered 19 assists in both La Liga seasons under Mourinho and overcame some serious competition for a spot in this side.

Arjen Robben loses out to the now Arsenal playmaker in one of the wide spots.

Left wing – Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

The pair won Chelsea the 2015 Premier League

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The pair won Chelsea the 2015 Premier League

The Belgian is the only Chelsea player to make this XI exclusively from Mourinho’s second spell in west London but you can see why.

He won the PFA Player of the Year in their title-winning 2015 season and was the star of the show for most of Mourinho’s two and a half year spell at the club.

Striker – Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

Prime CR7 was always going to make it

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Prime CR7 was always going to make it

Probably the only guarantee on this list was the Portuguese world beater.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner scored 84 La Liga goals in Mourinho’s first two seasons at Bernabeu.

Mourinho’s compatriot claimed The Special One was the greatest thinker he had ever worked with when talking about Real’s 2012 League title.

Striker – Didier Drogba (Chelsea)

Jose’s best ever?

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Jose’s best ever?

This one is a little contentious.

Samuel Eto’o, Diego Milito, Karim Benzema, Diego Costa, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku miss out to the Ivorian in the final spot in the XI.

During his time at Real Madrid Mourinho said that he couldn’t name one player as his best; but if he had to, it would be Drogba. Statistics don’t always do the man justice who spearheaded Chelsea’s attack for eight years.

A massive presence up front and a man who was the perfectly equipped for a Mourinho side.

It’s nothing personal, Samuel

AFP
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It’s nothing personal, Samuel

Having managed some of the world’s best sides and having won two Champions League’s there was always going to be some debate over these spots.

There can be arguments for Drogba over Eto’o and Cech over Casillas… but Gallas over Ashley Cole?

C’mon, Jose.