Willian: I have special affection for Mourinho

Chelsea Brazilian star Willian has confessed his special affection for former Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho who brought Willian to Chelsea during his second stint at Chelsea. Willian has nothing but words of praise for the Portuguese and other coaches he has worked with in his career.

Willian told ESPN Brazil: ‘I learned something from all of them. I learned a lot,’ he said.

‘When I went to Shakhtar with Lucescu. When I left Shakhtar, in a very short spell at Anzhi with Guus Hiddink, I learned a lot. And then here at Chelsea with Mourinho, a manager who helped me a lot, I learned a lot from him. So with all of them I learned a lot. But we always have a special affection for somebody, and you feel that, that it is reciprocal of him. And we’re not even working together anymore, but we’ve become friends. And it’s Mourinho.

‘The coach who has helped me since my arrival at Chelsea. That backed me, that put me to play, that relied on my potential, that relied on my work.

‘So no doubt I have affection for all, but Mourinho was a guy that I have a special affection and helped me a lot.’

When asked if the public perception of Mourinho is unfair, Willian replied: ‘Actually, he’s a smart manager, I really enjoyed working with him. ‘Like every manager, when the team loses, or something happens, the team don’t do well, the manager ends up getting upset. But it’s part of the job.

‘He is a manager who talks to players, who is tactically very smart, knows how to lead the group well.

‘So I only have good things to say about him, this whole time I worked with him at Chelsea was very good. So he is a very good manager and person, and always tries to do the best for the team.’