Hong Kong trip vital in ensuring next Chelsea boss makes mark like Jose Mourinho
Ex-keeper Carlo Cudicini anticipating valuable opportunities for two-times European champions’ manager and players at city football festival
A trip to Hong Kong this summer will be vital in shaping the reign of the next Chelsea manager, according to the club’s decorated former goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini.
Under the caretaker charge of Calum McFarlane for this Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City, after they axed Liam Rosenior last month, Chelsea are set to play Juventus at Kai Tak Stadium as part of August’s Hong Kong Football Festival.
Currently the club’s loan player technical coach, Cudicini was a player when their greatest manager, Jose Mourinho, spelt out his roadmap to success on a USA pre-season tour in 2004.
“You could feel the importance of the first few meetings; straightaway as a player, you understood who was in front of you, what he wanted and how he wanted it done,” Cudicini told the South China Morning Post.
“It will be extremely important for the new manager to quickly understand the squad and pass his message to the players. He’ll have to maximise the little time he has [to prepare for the season] ... find out which players are leaders, and work on what he wants from the team.”
Reportedly on the verge of a shock return to Real Madrid, Mourinho immediately “stole the winning code” at Chelsea, claiming the Premier League title in his first season to end the club’s 50-year wait to be crowned champions.