Jose Mourinho Manager of Chelsea celebrates with players, Petr Cech, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Jiri Jarosik, Frank Lampard with trophy and John Terry after winning the Premier League match
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Ricardo Carvalho has recalled a brilliant story involving Jose Mourinho and Frank Lampard from his time at Chelsea. Carvalho spent six seasons at Stamford Bridge after joining from Porto in 2004 alongside Mourinho.
The Portugal international formed arguably the best centre-back partnership in Premier League history alongside John Terry. The 2004/05 title-winning Chelsea team still hold the record for the fewest goals conceded in a Premier League season (15).
Given that Carvalho was not only a top player but also close to Mourinho, one might assume he was rarely on the receiving end of the manager’s dressing-room rants. However, Carvalho recalls feeling the full force of Mourinho’s anger, including on one occasion when both he and Lampard came under fire.
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Ricardo Carvalho recalls hilarious Jose Mourinho and Frank Lampard moment at Chelsea
Ricardo Carvalho previously revealed that he was often criticised more than any of his Chelsea teammates. Being Jose Mourinho’s Portuguese compatriot and having played under him at Porto did not work in his favour.
“John knows that at Chelsea, when things didn’t go well, I was the first one to be killed,” the former centre-back told the Obi One Podcast. Carvalho’s former teammate John Obi Mikel responded: “Yes, he was always the first.”
Carvalho then recalled a hilarious incident in the Chelsea dressing room at half-time during a game that was not going well. This time, the Blues’ all-time leading goalscorer, Frank Lampard, was called out moments before Carvalho’s turn.
“One time, in the dressing room at half-time, we were losing and playing so badly and – he was so clever – he wanted to kick everyone,” the 48-year-old said.
“First, he went to Lampard because if he was not performing, the team was awful, and he said, ‘Lampsy, stop scoring goals for the national team; you have to score goals for the national team but also here!’
“But before Lampard could react, he came to [me]. ‘Are you the best? No, you’re s—!’ It was like that but even worse.
“But it’s the way he is and at Chelsea at that time, we accepted the way it was. We knew it was the best for the team and not personal. I don’t take that personally.”
Football has changed significantly over the past two decades, and Mourinho’s brutal dressing-room rants might not be accepted in the modern game. However, his and Carvalho’s relentless desire to win meant they used those moments as fuel to push themselves and Chelsea towards greater success.