Ivanovic says Chelsea on the improve – ‘We are

Barcelona scouts were detailed to watch England’s friendly against Spain in Alicante last week and while there was intrigue over the possibility of seeing the Leicester City striker who is the Premier League’s top goalscorer, it was John Stones they wanted to study against their nation’s best players. Reports have circulated of player mutiny, but Willian has denied that the players are anything other than fully behind Mourinho.

Of course we can not then say everyone loves Jose but most individuals of considerable significance seem to see him more in good light than with contempt as it so often seems. The Portuguese believes a ball-playing central defender would have relieved the pressure on midfield duo Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas, and given the team a better balance.

“My dream is to become player of the year, to win the World Cup, to be a legend at Chelsea”, he said.

“Even when someone criticises another one, it is positive”.

Chelsea’s form has been a huge topic of conversation after each game so far this season for one reason or another, mostly down to below-par performances. “This is a normal situation”.

The Serbia worldwide has struggled along with the club this season, and has missed Chelsea’s past seven matches with a hamstring injury.

“Jose [Mourinho] is always working on the psychological moments”.

But, as if Chelsea’s task wasn’t hard enough already, it would appear that we have another challenger in the arena and it’s a somewhat surprising one.

“He tries certain exercises in training sessions and does things that will help us in the next game”.

The need to bring new faces into the first-team squad is accepted throughout the club – and it will happen, regardless of Mourinho’s fate. This is great for the manager.

The former Real Madrid man wants to take full responsibility over the club’s transfers and plans to sell a number of players. “We have to be strong”.