I'm In Charge At Chelsea, Not The Players: Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has warned Chelsea captain John Terry that he may find himself on the bench this season just as he did last term under Rafa Benitez.

The Portuguese coach says he will pick players on merit, for their performances in matches and attitude during training. He controversially dropped Spain and Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas from his team last season.

'I am a coach who looks for a meritocracy. Whoever I think is best must play - without looking at status or the past,' Mourinho told Spanish TV programme Punta Pelota.

'You play as you train. It is a normal situation. 'As it was normal for me to leave [Marco] Materazzi, a mythical player at Inter Milan, on the bench. Or like Benitez this year at Chelsea with Terry. 'The fans can think that Iker is better than Diego [Lopez]. I accept that, but I am the coach. If they play or not, that is a problem for the player.'

Mourinho will have the final say on the player's future at the club as Terry has just one year remaining on his contract. He blamed Terry in part for his departure from Stamford Bridge back in 2007 but the pair have made up since.

Although Mourinho has warned that players will be selected on form, he appreciates the benefits - including leadership and motivation - of having Terry as a consistent part of his back-line. Terry was the lynchpin of Mourinho's double title-winning side, playing alongside William Gallas and then Ricardo Carvalho.

Mourinho is interested in bringing Porto centre-back Eliaquim Mangala to Stamford Bridge. The 22-year-old helped the Portuguese side go unbeaten all season, winning the Primeira Liga and only conceding 14 goals in the process.

Source: Daily Mail