Roman grounded as Portugal goes Jose crazy

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As Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was explaining how he came to miss the 4-0 Carling Cup win at Hull City, departed manager Jose Mourinho made a triumphant return to Portugal.

It emerged yesterday that Abramovich's private jet developed technical problems, causing him to be absent as Avram Grant finally got lift-off as Mourinho's controversial successor.

Home is the hero: Mourinho is mobbed at Lisbon airport

Grant, asked why Abramovich was not in the directors' box, replied: "When he is here, you say he picks the team. When he's not here, you're not so happy. I think he missed a good game."

Mourinho's return to Portugal brought his homeland to a standstill, prompting a former prime minister to walk out of a TV interview after being interrupted.

"Do you think this is justified?" former Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes asked the presenter after the programme was interrupted to show Mourinho's arrival at Lisbon airport late on Wednesday.

"This country is going crazy," said Santana Lopes. "With all due respect, I am not going ahead with the interview. People have to learn."

Mourinho, who arrived in Lisbon with his family on a private jet, was met by a mass of reporters and told them: "I want to prepare as well as possible for my return, and I don't know if it will be in a week's time, months, or a year.

"I hope I won't go a lot of months without working because I like doing it. I'll follow the leagues where I may have the chance of work and the Portuguese one because it's mine. But in silence, detached and calmly.

"But for now I want to live away from football. I'll go and watch (hometown team) Vitoria Setubal as an act of friendship and passion for the club."

He admits it is hard to keep away from football though, saying: "During the week all's well. But at the weekend it's difficult. I left Chelsea on a Wednesday or Thursday and at the weekend I saw seven football matches at home.

"I just want to live in peace with my family and enjoy the free time I've got now. I hope there will be some, but not for too long."

Meanwhile, Chelsea have vowed to launch a 'strong defence' against two FA charges relating to the conduct of their players and assistant coach Steve Clarke.

They are accused of failing to control their players during the 2-0 defeat at Manchester on Sunday when referee Mike Dean was surrounded after showing a red card to Mikel John Obi for a foul on Patrice Evra.

Clarke has also been charged with using foul and abusive language towards match officials after the game.

The FA have already rejected Chelsea's appeal to have Mikel's red card rescinded although skipper John Terry, who tried to grab Dean's red card, has escaped an individual charge.

A Chelsea statement said they would be "strongly defending the two charges and will be considering that defence until we have to respond on October 12".

Grant did receive some better news yesterday after learning UEFA will allow him on to the touchline when Chelsea visit Valencia in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The former Israel national coach does not possess the UEFA Pro Licence normally required to manage in both the Premier League and in Europe.

However, UEFA say they have no plans to prevent him from coaching his side in the Champions League.

 

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