José Mourinho has cast doubt over Kevin De Bruyne’s ability to cope with being part of a Premier League title-chasing squad as the Belgian prepares to move to Manchester City for a fee that could break the British transfer record of £57.1m.
Mourinho sold the 24-year-old to Wolfsburg 18 months ago for £18m and watched him help his new side to second in the Bundesliga behind Bayern Munich in a season laden with an impressive 10 goals and 22 assists.
The Chelsea manager has no regrets about parting company with De Bruyne, who made only two Premier League starts at Stamford Bridge, mainly because the midfielder lacked the fortitude to compete with a host of world-class rivals for his position.
Providing his move to City is agreed, De Bruyne will surely see a similar situation unfold under Manuel Pellegrini whose signing of Raheem Sterling has indicated his desperation to win back the title lost to Chelsea.
The Belgian has complained about his treatment at Chelsea but Mourinho rejects that he was the reason for his failure to play a key role at the club. “That is unfair because I wanted to keep him,” said the Portuguese. “And he told me it was not in his personality to be competing for a position in the team. He needed a team where he knows he can play every game. He needs to know that he is important.
"He did not want a team where he thinks am I playing or not? He needs that trust, he needs that quality. He needs that security. So I was not happy when he left. So yes it’s not fair.”
Mourinho added: “He didn’t tell me he couldn’t handle the pressure. He told me he wanted to play every weekend. I told him this is Chelsea, you are very young, you have Eden Hazard, you have Mata, you have Willian, you have Schürrle, and I cannot promise you that.
"And the first game of the season against Hull City he played. For the second game against Manchester United, he played. The third game of the season was the Super Cup in Prague, I decided not to play him. For the fourth match, in the Premier League, he was on the bench. And he was not happy. He told me he was not happy.
"He was not training very well and he was saying: ‘I can’t give you more. This is just my way.’
"So yes, I accept that if this is his mentality and it’s his choice to go, it is better for Chelsea to make a good deal. Chelsea made a good deal and he was happy to go and I am happy because the kid is a good kid. And I am happy for him
"Players have different circumstances. We sold him, made our money and it was fantastic because we bought him cheap and sold him for a fantastic price. And now Wolfsburg, if they make a fantastic deal, that is good for them.”
Mourinho has heavily criticised the Chelsea goalkeeping coach Christophe Lollichon for talking out of turn in an interview conducted last month, where he spoke about Petr Cech having the option of joining Paris Saint-Germain before singing for Arsenal.
Mourinho, whose side take on PSG in North Carolina aiming to improve on a thoroughly unimpressive pre-season defeat to a virtual New York Red Bulls reserve side on Wednesday, was clearly unimpressed.
"I don’t speak about Paris,” he said. “I don’t think that I should. A couple of weeks ago my goalkeeper coach was speaking about the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper and I think he shouldn’t do it. So it’s not for me to speak to about PSG players, squad, ambition or team, nothing. I just say that they have very good players and for us to play against them is very good.”
Mourinho also stressed he is ready to cope with all the consequences of the club being forced to leave Stamford Bridge for three years while the stadium is renovated.
Being here in North America is a stark reminder to Roman Abramovich just how vital it is to make inroads to a global market, something which needs a larger arena in which to play in and attract more supporters.
He said: “I’ve taken charge of 98 matches on my bench in Stamford Bridge and hope to have more. I know the club needs to make the next step and that is a new Stamford Bridge, more seats.
"At a certain point of our lives as a club, we will have to leave which is a bad thing but if we need to play at another stadium we will try to make it our new home while we wait.”
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