Jose Mourinho, the manager of Chelsea at the time, was urging patience regarding Samuel Eto’o’s adaptation to English football. Mourinho acknowledged that Eto’o, who arrived from Anzhi Makhachkala, needed time to adjust to the competitive nature of the English Premier League.
Mourinho emphasized that Eto’o, despite being a top-level player in Europe, required some time to regain full match fitness and adapt to the pace and physicality of English football. He mentioned that Eto’o had played 80 minutes in a recent match, indicating a gradual return to form.
Moreover, Mourinho hinted at a change in Eto’o’s playing style, suggesting that he would be deployed as a pure No.9. Mourinho commented on Eto’o’s previous versatility, playing well from the outside to the inside during his time at Inter, but he believed Eto’o might need to adapt to a more static role.
At the time of these comments, Eto’o had not yet scored for Chelsea, and his performances were deemed disappointing. Mourinho’s plea for patience reflected his belief that Eto’o would find his rhythm and contribute positively to the team given some time.
