‘You’re staying’: Glen Johnson reveals Jose Mourinho’s dramatic Chelsea loan U-turn

Glen Johnson says Jose Mourinho tore up his completed loan agreement with Olympique Lyonnais in front of him before telling him he would remain at Chelsea.

The former Liverpool, Chelsea and England right-back, now 42, spent four years at Chelsea. Two of those seasons came during Mourinho’s first spell in charge, which began in 2004 and brought major success, including the Premier League and League Cup double in 2004-05.

Johnson did not feature regularly under Mourinho, but says he looks back positively on their time together and remembers having several notable conversations with the Portuguese manager.

“I have great memories of working under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea,” Johnson told The Sun. “We were winning all the time, including the Premier League and League Cup double in 2004-05.”

“Winning trophies always helps create good memories. Our confidence was at its highest and we were one of the best teams the Premier League had ever seen. Jose and I had lots of great conversations, but one of them stands out in particular.”

Mourinho believed Johnson needed to leave on loan to play more regularly, but wanted him to join a club competing in the Champions League so he could gain experience at the highest level.

Johnson subsequently secured a move to Olympique Lyonnais, who were among the leading clubs in Europe at the time. Lyon had won the French league title in seven successive seasons between 2002 and 2008.

“He wanted me to go out on loan to get more playing time because I wasn’t playing much at Chelsea,” Johnson said. “But, if possible, he wanted the club to be involved in the Champions League so I could gain genuine experience.”

“I went and found the opportunity to go to Lyon, who were a huge deal at the time, during the period when they had won the French league seven times in a row. The deal was done and I was a young player, so it was a massive opportunity for me.

“But I went to tell Jose and showed him the contract. He tore it up right in front of me.”

Johnson believes the incident was not simply a sudden change of mind, but a test of his character. He felt Mourinho had doubted whether the young defender was brave enough to leave Chelsea and take on a new challenge.

“I don’t think he ever thought I had the courage to leave and get a deal like that at my age,” Johnson said. “I think it was supposed to be a test of character, and I passed it with flying colours because he tore up the deal and told me I was staying.”

“I had no choice. But I think he respected me more after that and started putting me in the team more.”

Johnson eventually left Chelsea on loan for Portsmouth in 2006 before joining the club permanently the following year, gaining more regular football and establishing himself in the Premier League.

He moved to Liverpool in 2009 and remained there until 2015. Johnson won 54 England caps during his international career and became one of the leading English full-backs of his generation.