Leroy Hits Back At Mourinho

BLACK Stars French trainer, Claude LeRoy has issued out a clear warning to Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho and other coaches who might want to derail his plans for an assault on the upcoming CAN 2008 in January next year that they will not have an easy ride at all. The normally placid Frenchman has stated in unambiguous terms that as much as he respects the Portuguese he will not in any way countenance any form of pressure from any quarters.

It will be recalled that when Jose Mourinho visited the country a couple of weeks ago together with the Chelsea youth team on a humanitarian mission on behalf of Right To Play, he made a passionate appeal to the handlers of the senior national team, the Black Stars that they should come to a compromise where Michael Essien will be allowed to stay behind at Chelsea till a few days to the commencement of the CAN 2008 tournament.

Mourinho told the press on his visit to Ghana “Something we can understand and something we don't want to change is the love and passion every one of our players has to play for their countries. What I will try and I don't know if people will be open to it, is to lose the players just for the competition and not 15 days before the competition. If we lose the players to play in the competition, it is something you can accept. It is more difficult to accept that for 15 days the players are doing some training while Chelsea is playing some very important matches. That will be what I am going to try, co-operation. But I am not sure if I am going to succeed in that effort” He continued “I hope Essien can come here and help Ghana to be successful in your African Nations Cup, played in your home, and I also hope you understand that I need him so much that you will leave him with me two more weeks. I will plead with the FA to delay the return of the player. We know the FIFA rule makes provision for the player to join his country 15 days before the competition, but at the same time Chelsea would also be involved in some important matches” Mourinho added.

But in an exclusive interview with Angel FM, LeRoy rapped: “I respect Mourinho as a coach but he cannot tell me what to do” LeRoy said. “As much as I understand his situation that he has a team to build we have to play according to the rules. Next year's Cup of Nations will be a difficult one as all the teams are stronger for instance the Ivorians so we will need all our best materials available. We have to win six games before we lift the trophy” he added. When asked whether he had a problem with Jose Mourinho, the Black Stars coach replied in the negative and said “I don't have any problem with Mourinho”

It remains to be seen whether LeRoy will acquiesce to the demands of Mourinho or whether he will stick to his guns and demand the release of the player a month before the competition commences or a compromise will be reached. Only time will tell.