MOURINHO BACKED

Russia’s national team manager Fabio Capello has praised his Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho by saying that he should be given the manager of the year award. Mourinho recently came back to Chelsea where he had a lot of success during 2004-07. This was also the most successful period in Chelsea’s league history as they lifted two league titles. They are looking like adding to those league victories this campaign after managing to come top of the table at just the right stage in the season. Mourinho has also managed to get the best out of Eden Hazard, who has already become one of the Premier league’s best players.

The Belgian international has been spoken of as the next big thing in world football, but under the leadership of Mourinho, he is becoming truly consistent and capable of delivering in the big matches as well. Capello has taken note of the progress made by Hazard, while he says that Mourinho has done extremely well not only to revitalise the older players like Frank Lampard and John Terry, but he has also managed to do well in the transfer market as well. Chelsea bought Nemanja Matic from Benfica for £ 21 million. He is proving to be a world-class acquisition for the blues.

“I would say that till now Mourinho is going to be coach of the year because he has succeeded in a short time, a really difficult job: he has revitalised the old Chelsea, from Terry to Lampard, using the energy and quality of the new talent. They have not made a mistake with one buy and that is not normal. I have seen him mature, become convinced of his abilities. Mourinho can be proud of his work. I say this because his fingerprints are all over this, for sure,” said Capello about Chelsea and Hazard.

CAPELLO BACKS REAL

Russia’s national team manager Fabio Capello has said that his former club – Real Madrid – can win the Champions league this season. The club appointed Carlo Ancelotti, who has been managed by Capello in the past, as the club’s new manager to replace Jose Mourinho. Real Madrid are chasing the elusive 10th European cup for more than a decade. They already hold the record for winning the most number of European titles, but they are pressing keen on winning the 10th trophy. Capello is no stranger to success in Madrid after having won the league title during his one year at the club.

Currently the manager of the Russian national team, Capello has spoken about his former team’s chances of winning the Champions League. He believes that Real Madrid have one of the strongest teams in terms of balance, while they have an experienced coach in the form of Ancelotti. The Italian is one of the few to have won the title as a player and as a manager. Barcelona have been regarded as favourites for the Champions League up until now, but Capello says that the arrival of a new manager in the form of Gerardo Martino reduces their chances since they are going through a transitional period.

“Real is favourite to win La Liga and a tenth European Cup. The squad is extraordinary. The change of coach at Barcelona has brought something different. The team plays faster, attacking football and scores lots of goals, but it is still developing,” said Capello, who is focused now switches back to the national team. Having been grouped alongside Belgium, South Korea, and Algeria, Russia have a good chance of progressing to the knockout stage of the World Cup 2014.

Russia failed to qualify for the South African edition in 2010, which led to the appointment of Capello.

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