Chelsea news: Jose Mourinho managed both Robert Huth and Claude Makelele at Stamford Bridge (Image: GETTY)
Chelsea icon Mourinho had two spells at Stamford Bridge earlier in his career.
He took over when Huth was strutting his stuff in north London back in 2004, and left three-and-half years later with two Premier League crowns, two EFL Cup titles and the FA Cup to his name.
Chelsea have tasted success under nearly every manager of the Roman Abramovich era but it was in Jose Mourinho’s first spell in charge where they were the dominant force of English football.
And Huth has now revealed how he used midfielder Makelele to motivate his players upon taking over from Claudio Ranieri nearly 15 years ago.
“I had a bit of Luca Vialli. Then Claudio Ranieri. Then Jose Mourinho,” he told The Sun.
“It was under Mourinho that things really changed.
“We were in the States for pre-season and as soon as the national team players joined us in Seattle, two weeks after we started, there was a meeting.
“Mourinho said: ‘Lads, you’re all good players but there’s only one that’s won anything — Claude Makelele. You need to get on it. You have to push on.’
“Everyone was like: ‘What?’
“No one was used to hearing that talk from a manager. Are you good enough? If you are, you’re on board; if not, you’re not.
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Chelsea news: Jose Mourinho used Claude Makelele to motivate his troops (Image: GETTY)
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“With Mourinho, first day was with the ball. He changed my mindset completely. I played more under Claudio, simply because of finances.
“There were more youth players coming through and I was pretty good, so he gave me a chance.
“Mourinho, in terms of preparation, was game-changing.”
Mourinho is no longer the toast of world football.
In his second spell at Chelsea he was sacked wth the Blues in the relegation zone - and players inside the dressing room were unhappy under the 56-year-old.
He won the EFL Cup and Europa League at Manchester United.
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