Back on Valentine’s Day of last year, then-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho showed there was no love lost between him and Arsene Wenger by calling the Arsenal boss ‘a specialist in failure’.
And today, that comment has well and truly come back to bite him.
After Chelsea confirmed that the Portuguese had been relieved of his duties at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal fans predictably immediately took to Twitter to call their long-term nemesis ‘the real specialist in failure’.
And the stats show that they might just be right:
Since 'specialist in failure' comment
Arsene Wenger:
Win ratio: 60.82%
Sackings: 0
Jose Mourinho
Win ratio: 56.84%
Sackings: 1
The Portuguese manager has found himself simply unable to motivate a squad that won the league title at a canter last term, with Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas in particular failing to reach the levels they did last season.
He leaves with Chelsea just one point above the relegation zone, with Guus Hiddink reportedly set to return for a second interim stint at Stamford Bridge.
From the Special One to the Sacked One
- Mourinho’s Chelsea side now hold the record for the worst title defence in Premier League history
- Chelsea’s nine losses this season are the most Mourinho has ever suffered in the Premier League. The last time they lost 9 out of their first 16 matches, they were relegated.
- Chelsea’s 2015/16 win percentage under Mourinho is an astonishing 25%. His previous worst win percentage at Stamford Bridge was 50%
- Chelsea have conceded twice as many goals this season as they did in the whole of last term
Wenger could probably be forgiven for feeling smug after Chelsea’s decision, and while the Frenchman’s recent trophy record pales in comparison compared to Mourinho’s, his efforts this season shine a new light on the ‘specialist in failure’ debate.
Taking a league-winning to side to the cusp of the relegation zone one week before Christmas is an unprecedented fall of grace for a club of Chelsea’s stature.
While Wenger isn’t without his follies, if we use Chelsea’s current league position after 16 games as a yardstick by which to measure failure, it’s clear that Mourinho is the specialist.
Wenger v Mourinho
Arsenal’s lowest league position under Wenger after 16 games is 8th (2005/06)
Chelsea’s lowest league position under Mourinho after 16 games is 16th (2015/16)
A way to make Jose feel blue
Jose Mourinho’s Premier League defeats by season:
2004/05 = 1/38
2005/06 = 5/38
2006/07 = 3/38
2007/08 = 1/38
2013/14 = 6/38
2014/15 = 3/38
2015/16 = 9/16
Mourinho's season in numbers
Chelsea PL games: 16
Wins: 4
Draws: 3
Losses: 9
Goals for: 18
Goals against: 26
Points: 15
MORE: Gooners want 'agent' 'Cesc back after getting Jose sacked
Arsenal PL games: 16
Wins: 10
Draws: 3
Losses: 3
Goals for: 29
Goals against: 13
Points: 33
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