I also stopped following them and took a break from footy completely (apart from cup finals especially Champions league) when Mourinho got fired the 2nd time - for American sports. They almost gave me heart attack. I was super-passionate about footy and I needed that break. Got back into it during covid with Lampz at the helm and I’ve not looked back.
That 04-05 Chelsea squad.
People who claim Mourinho always park the bus never watched Chelsea that season. 4-3-3 total football with Robben and Duff on the wings and Joe Cole off the bench - that was Klopp’s Liverpool before Klopp. Robben was just too injury prone and immature and Duff never full recovered from the injury he had.
Do you remember the team before Roman bought the club that almost knocked a Barca team with Figo, Rivaldo, Guardiola, Kluivert, Xavi, De Boer at al out of the Championship league before Babayaro conceded a pen in the last min (I think)? That’s one of my fave Chelsea teams of all time. Wise, Petrescu, Zola, Deschamps, Babayaro and Desailly.
I was a puppy back then but that team.
Man like Flo - the Norwegian Kanu!