Chelsea players doubly motivated to Dig The Face Of The Special One

Last season before the dramatic sack, Jose Mourinho felt betrayed by his team especially players like Eden Hazard, Diego Costa [who lost his goal-scoring confidence]  and then players like Nemanja Matic and Victor Moses, who felt betrayed by the man, who was supposed to be a nurturer.

Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard

One of the primary reasons that earned Mourinho the sack last November was Eden Hazard playing below his optimum level. The Belgian, who loves a cuddle from his managers, was the subject of inquiry from Eva Carneiro on the opening day, that turned Stamford Bridge into a dark place in Mourinho’s last days. Early this season, Hazard aimed a dig at Mourinho by saying Conte treats the players better because he played the game. “Conte puts trust in his players and now we are good after an ugly season last year. I’ve always been the same player but Conte knows how to treat players having played at the highest level himself.”

Mourinho believed Hazard did not apply himself 100% to the Chelsea project and dropped him for some matches.

“It was leaving super quality on the bench, but bringing tactical discipline and hoping the team could be solid. I will continue that way, or he comes in our direction and tries to emulate the same work that Willian and Pedro put in.” Hazard is sure to put in the work that would be needed to win against his former boss to wipe off the smirk from the Special One’s face on Sunday.

Victor Moses

Moses has often voiced the fact that Mourinho never gave him a chance even after proving himself during pre-season. The Nigerian, who has started two consecutive matches under Antonio Conte told ESPN recently that, “He [Mourinho] never spoke to me," when asked if Mourinho had explained the decision to send him on loan. “I thought in my head, 'He's got his own players already'. He will be out to prove to the Portuguese that he has all the skill-set to have become a success at Chelsea under the right management.

Moses revealed that Conte specifically came to him before the season began. “The manager came to me and said, 'I feel that you're working hard, I really enjoy watching you play and I don't want you to go out on loan.

“When he said that to me I was really pleased. To be honest, I just want to go out there, enjoy my football and work hard for him. He's played the game before, he understands it and he understands how players feel,” he added.

Nemanja Matic

Matic suffered the ignominy of being a substitute that was substituted as Mourinho turned nasty as his era at the Bridge came crashing down. This season, it has been a rebuilding process for the Serbian powerhouse midfielder as he seeks to rebuild the confidence of two seasons ago when his tackles and covering of the back four led Chelsea to the title. "It was not humiliating," Mourinho said. "It was not the case. I do not do that to anyone, in football, and in life.” After this embarrassing experience, Matic said, “This is what happened with Mourinho and I can't comment on that. What happened, it happened, we move on.” He will be very keen to move on with a victory against his former boss on Sunday.

Diego Costa

If you want to know how motivated Costa would be for the meeting with the manager that brought him to London, then look no further than the wild gesticulation from Costa to be subbed off from the match against Leicester City. He did not want to risk getting a fifth yellow card and missing the confrontation with Manchester United. Costa was one of the players the Stamford Bridge crowd turned on as not giving their best and being the ‘rats’ that ensured their favourite manager was sacked. There was even a bib-throwing event when Costa was benched – “The thing with the bib is done, it’s over. I was wrong, but the relationship with Mourinho is great, we get along very well.

“There are things that I have to control, but it was an impulse. In no way was it to hit him. If I threw the bib at him it wouldn’t have missed because he was very close.”

Costa will be throwing more than bibs on Sunday – you can be sure of that. These players will be doubly motivated to prove that sacking Mourinho was not a mistake – what other motivation do you need?