José Mourinho Criticizes Winter Signings Following Chelsea’s Draw with Norwich
José Mourinho’s frustration was palpable after Chelsea’s disappointing 0-0 draw against Norwich on Sunday, a result that clearly did not sit well with the Portuguese manager. The match, which saw the Belgian Eden Hazard begin on the bench after his controversial comments following Chelsea’s Champions League elimination, became the focal point of Mourinho’s post-match ire.
Reports from The Daily Mail have revealed the tense atmosphere in Chelsea’s locker room at halftime, with Mourinho reportedly taking aim at two of his winter signings—Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah. According to sources, Mourinho questioned Matic’s €25 million price tag, which the club paid Benfica for his services in January, suggesting that the Serbian midfielder had yet to fully prove his worth since arriving.
The more pointed remarks, however, were directed at Salah, the Egyptian winger who had arrived from Basel for a similar fee. Mourinho reportedly told Salah that he would need to demonstrate during the upcoming preseason that he was “ready to be a footballer,” a stinging comment aimed at urging the 22-year-old to step up and show greater commitment to his role at Chelsea.
The halftime tirade adds to the growing narrative of tension surrounding Chelsea’s late-season struggles, with Mourinho clearly dissatisfied with certain aspects of his squad as the campaign draws to a close. With the Premier League title out of reach and Chelsea’s focus shifting to securing a top-four finish, the Special One’s frustrations continue to bubble to the surface, particularly with players who have yet to live up to expectations.
