"I'm so happy to give the kids a chance and, especially, when I give the chance and feel that they have the tools to answer well and make a career at Chelsea"
Jose Mourinho
Relationships are always fun at the beginning, aren’t they? Your future together seems so bright and shiny - full of rainbows and unicorns. And then reality hits you like a frying pan in the face. Promises uttered in those early warm and fuzzy moments never come to fruition. This could be your future Manchester United.
United have a longstanding tradition of having a youth team product in their match day squad — which they will remind you of over and over … and over again. Being the savvy character that he is, Mourinho came armed with a list of all the players he selflessly gave debuts to ease concerns about the “one lie repeated many times”.
Unsurprisingly no one *actually* saw this list when he was waving it brazenly about the press room. He eventually handed over the list of players he spotted and ‘gave a chance’ to. So who were those hidden gems that JM unearthed and gave to the world?
Debut
Third round of the FA Cup against Scunthorpe. The mighty went on to win the match handily 3-1. But ultimately ended their cup run in the last 16 against Newcastle. Watt's only other appearance was coming off the bench in the final minute of the final league game of the 2004/05 campaign.
Minutes Played Under Jose
91
Where Is He Now?
Watt joined Leatherhead as player / assistant manager in January. Obviously taking onboard everything he must have learned under Mourinho’s tutelage.
Lenny Pidgeley (GK)
Debut
Came on as a sub when Carlo Cudicini was forced off with just 8 minutes to go for being too handsome* against Charlton in the final game of the 2004/05 season. Which means he only went and got to enjoy the trophy celebrations - being such a big part of the campaign and all.
Minutes Played Under Jose
98
Where Is He Now?
He joined Leatherehead at the same time as Steve Watt, but moved on to Forest Green Rovers in 2016 where he served as a temporary GK coach.
Anthony Grant (CM)
Debut
Grant was a tactical time wasting sub for Joe Cole in the 90th minute against Manchester United - ensuring a 3-1 win.
Minutes Played Under Jose
1
Where Is He Now
He’s currently at Port Vale, where he was voted Player of the Season. This after picking up FIFTEEN bookings during the season to find himself suspended for their final three matches.
Jimmy Smith (CM)
Debut
Made his lone Chelsea appearance in a 1-0 away loss against Newcastle - because Mourinho + St. James Park. Smith came on for Ricardo Carvalho who was unsurprisingly on a booking. This was the same match that saw Lenny Pidgeley’s only start as a Chelsea player.
Minutes Played Under Jose
9
Where Is He Now?
Currently a regular at League Two side Crawley Town. They are now managed by former Chelsea Reserve Team manager Dermot Drummy.
Ben Sahar (LW)
Debut
Sahar got the cup treatment from Mourinho as he made his debut in the 3rd round FA Cup in a 6-1 rout of Macclesfield. Salomon Kalou made way for Sahar's 14 minute cameo. John Obi Mikel AND Ricardo Carvalho both found the back of the net after he came on so it’s obvious Sahar had some sort of super powers.
Minutes Played under Jose
108
Where Is He Now?
In Israel. Playing for the brilliantly named Hapoel Be’er Sheva. He has scored or assisted 4 goals in his last 5 league apps for them.
Michael Woods (CM)
Debut
Woods followed Sahar onto the pitch against Macclesfield for his debut to replace Ashley Cole. This 11 min cup cameo was enough to get a sub appearance in the 4th round of the FA Cup as well! But then nothing after that.
Minutes Played Under Jose
23
Where Is He Now?
Woods currently finds himself all the way up in Hartlepool - who finished 16th in League Two last season.
Sam Hutchinson (DM)
Debut
Forget those cup appearances, Hutchinson was trusted with an actual league game. Of course it was the final one of the 2006/07 season in the final minute against Everton. But what a minute it was.
Minutes Played Under Jose
1
Where Is He Now?
Hutchinson was forced into an extraordinarily early retirement due to an injury he thought he wouldn’t be able to recover from. He managed to work with some great medical staff who helped him through his chronic knee injury to see him return to Chelsea albeit briefly. He’s now under contract at Sheffield Wednesday until 2018.
Arjen Robben (RW)
Debut
An interesting inclusion to the list of academy players he's nurtured. Robben made 70 Eredivisie apps before becoming The Special One's Chosen One. And only after Manchester United had seen their bid rejected by PSV. But yes, top talent spotting Jose. It cost £12.1M for Mourinho to ‘develop’ this promising youth team player.
Minutes Played Under Jose
6589
Where Is He Now?
It remains to be seen whether Mourinho thinks Robben has returned to obscurity now that he’s in the wilderness of the Bundesliga. He’ll be linking up with Carlo Ancelotti at Bayern Munich next season, the lucky sod.
John Obi Mikel (DM)
Debut
Not implying that Jose's eye for youth is indebted to Manchester United's scouts, but like Robben, United were very much interested in the Nigerian. To the point they announced his arrival on their website. After much confusion and a court case, Mikel dropped the United shirt he was holding and ended up in blue. Mourinho didn't wait to put Mikel to work handing him his debut in the Community Shield in a 2-1 loss to Liverpool. He replaced top chap Paulo Ferreira in the 82nd minute.
Minutes Played Under Jose
6409
Where Is He Now?
Only scoring goals for fun at Chelsea now.
Lassana Diarra (DM)
Debut
Diarra made 29 appearances for Le Havre when he was deemed the 'new Makelele'. He was given his debut in the Champions League in a 4-0 win against Real Betis, coming on for Claude himself. A passing of the torch, or so it was deemed in that moment.
Minutes Played Under Jose
6035 (1921 at Chelsea)
Where Is He Now?
Despite a fairly successful spell at Real Madrid, he didn't really fit their profile. Rumours of him being transfer listed floated about, but Mourinho continued on with Diarra. When he was moved on to accommodate Kaka he spent a couple of seasons in Russia before returning to France. He's currently with Marseille.
Kurt Zouma (CB)
Debut
Three years after making his actual professional debut, Kurt Zouma slide tackled into our Chelsea lives. Zouma was handed a rare debut, he was given an actual start. And he only went and did a goal. Not a bad start to his life in London.
Minutes Played Under Jose
3427
Where Is He Now?
Zouma is working his socks off to recover from the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered against Manchester United in February. Hopefully he'll be back better than ever sooner than later.
Bertrand Traoré (CF)
Debut
Was shipped out to Vitesse to actually make his 'Chelsea' debut, he made 51 appearances for them before being allowed to touch the sacred soil under Mourinho's feet. Traoré came on as a sub for Ruben Loftus-Cheek in Chelsea's 4-0 over Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Minutes Played Under Jose
60
Where Is He Now?
Currently in training under Don Antonio.
Lewis Baker (CM)
Debut
Was given three minutes against Derby in the FA Cup to show what he could do.
Minutes Played Under Jose
3
Where Is He Now?
Conte won't have an opportunity to see Baker in training as the decision had already been made to extend Baker's loan at Vitesse for the 2016/17 campaign.
Dominic Solanke (CF)
Debut
Chelsea's youngest ever player in the Champions League when he came on for Oscar against Maribor.
Minutes Played Under Jose
17
Where Is He Now?
Knocking in goals for England's U19s. Rumours of another season on loan loom large - although it could be to link up with Musonda at Real Betis rather than heading back to Vitesse.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (CM)
Debut
With Chelsea 3-1 up against Sporting and just 7 minutes to go, Loftus-Cheek got to make his senior debut in the Champions League.
Minutes Played Under Jose
381
Where Is He Now?
Mostly in the dreams of the youth mob ;) But actually at Cobham out to impress Antonio Conte.
John Swift (AML)
Debut
Remember that minute against Cardiff in the league 2 years ago? Me neither
Minutes Played Under Jose
1
Where Is He Now?
He is out of contract and reportedly rejected a new deal. Reading are thought to be the frontrunners for his signature.
Andreas Christensen (CB)
Debut
Like Zouma, Christensen was also handed a start - against Shrewsbury in the League Cup.
Minutes Played Under Jose
192
Where Is He Now?
Having an incredible loan spell in the Bundesliga. Christensen was voted Borussia M.Gladbach's player of the season - ahead of Granit Xhaka. Chelsea had agreed a two year club with the German side, so we likely won't see him again until next season. With Chelsea's inconsistent defence, they should really consider cutting his loan short.
jb x
*How this didn't happen more often to Cudicini, I'll never know
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