I read this interesting piece in Chease Official Website. I thought I should definitely share this with you in case you miss this. Jose Mourinho talks about how Mikel was developed and improved this season. Makes a very interesting read. Enjoy!

There are different concepts of players for that position. If you think about that player as only a defensiveplayer then you won’t look for players like John. If you think that player can be responsible for the first phase of the [attacking] build-up, you can think about players of his qualities. Around the world we have some players in that position with different qualities. John with the ball is so simple and simple in football in this kind of position means genius,’ the manager explained, adding: ‘I think he’s a genius in that position. He doesn’t lose the ball and he passes the ball so simple. He plays one or two touch football and the team plays a very good possession game with him in that position. And defensively he is improving a lot. I think his best position is that position.

I don’t think he’s a player for one-against-one. For example, in terms of body he is not a Kaka. He’s not a number 10 like Kaka, running with the ball and beating people. He’s a player of one or two touches with the football. Playing one or two touches in that position makes the game faster. The ball goes to him and before he’s under pressure, the ball is out. It is very difficult to press that kind of player so it makes the game fast without running a lot - just from the right occupation of space.

We went through phases. The first phase was for him was to realise where he was, the kind of responsibilities he has and to change his life and his mentality. He had to think as a professional, not as an amateur, and to think he had a lot to learn and is not the best player in the world. We had some little problems with him, not because he was a bad boy, or a bad professional, just because he was not used to football at a high level. We kicked him a lot,’ recalls Mourinho. ‘He didn’t make big mistakes but we felt we should attack the small mistakes to make him realise he should be different.

In that aspect, everyone in the club contributed to making him a man. He was not the first and won’t be the last football player to come late to a training session. He was not the first and won’t be the last to make a mistake with the shirt he has to wear to a hotel. We attacked him very strong on these little details and it was a period that made an impact on him. He realised how a professional has to be. I think I had an easy job in the education because I had top professional players with me.

When I have such great role models, it is easy to educate the boy. I could say “did you see Lampard coming in late, Carvalho training bad or Ballack making a mistake with the shirt? Did you see John Terry not playing because he has a small injury?” It is easy to do it. I think I had an easy job. I asked some players - Didier, Maka and African boys more connected in the cultural level - to help me with this fight - and the progression was fantastic!

I always belived that he is a great people manager. So many players have vouched this fact, and of course he has/created rich history too that confirms this! The above is just the latest sample.

By the way Peter Kenyon has confirmed that Jose will not be sacked!