Robert Huth shares what Jose Mourinho was really like when no one else was around at Chelsea.
Robert Huth says he was often “on the fringes” of the Chelsea first team, but he still looks back fondly on his “wonderful” time playing under Jose Mourinho. During Mourinho’s two title-winning seasons at Stamford Bridge, Huth played 23 games, but he was behind big names like John Terry, William Gallas, and Ricardo Carvalho in the lineup.
Still, Huth credits Mourinho, who calls himself the ‘Special One,’ with being a “total game-changer” for his career. When asked what Mourinho was like off the pitch, Huth told SPORTbible: “He was really tough and demanding, not just with players but with his staff too. But at the same time, he was very human. You could always talk to him about problems, even personal ones.”
Huth also said Mourinho is extremely driven and smart about football, always wanting to win. “You never felt afraid to go to him if you needed support,” Huth added. He’s known Mourinho for over 20 years and sees why he’s been so successful for so long.
Huth has mentioned before that Mourinho’s strong personality made the squad very competitive, and every training session felt like a battle. Still, he appreciated Mourinho’s open-door attitude. “He got the balance just right,” Huth said. “I can’t really think of many players who have bad things to say about him. Most people respect him a lot, not just the regular starters but players like me who didn’t always play.”
This summer, Mourinho surprised many by returning to Real Madrid after 13 years away. Huth admitted he was caught off guard, saying, “I was surprised. People thought maybe he was slowing down or taking easier jobs, but clearly, he still believes he can succeed.”
Huth thinks the Real Madrid team looks great when things are going well, with players celebrating and positive energy all around. But he also believes the real test will come if they lose a couple of games, pointing out past challenges with media and player reactions. For now, though, Huth wishes Mourinho the best and admires his determination to keep going strong.