Tributes to Mourinho from other managers

The best possible praise, surely, is that which comes from your rivals.

Alex Ferguson:

United host Chelsea this Sunday at Old Trafford and Ferguson said he would miss the "personal challenge" he used to enjoy between himself and Mourinho.

"He was terrific for football and terrific for Chelsea," said Ferguson.

"He brought something fresh and new to our game and I enjoyed the competition with him - I wish him well."

"He [Mourinho] enjoyed unparalleled success there, without question," said Ferguson.

Sven Goran Eriksson:

It's a surprise for everyone not only me. He has been very successful and I don't why he has left.

The Premier League will be losing one of its biggest characters. He has been colourful in the press conferences and I had a good relationship with him in the England job.

Martin Jol:

He's a great man and great manager. He thought he was 'The Special One' and in his case it was probably true.

I always liked to watch him. He's a character and sadly he's not there any more. Hopefully he stays in England, but if not all credit to him because he's given the Chelsea supporters a lot of joy.

Roy Keane:

He raised the bar for everybody, even for the likes of United, the Arsenals, they had to liven up their act a bit, and they came back stronger again, United and Arsenal, in the last year or two.

Jose Mourinho definitely did that for the Premier League, and he did the biggest challenge, where he turned a very good Chelsea team into a top team. That's the biggest step and the hardest step.

There are lots of good teams out there - I could name you 10 and say, 'they are a good team' - but they are not a top team, and that is the gap he bridged.

He will be a loss to the Premier League, there is no getting away from that.

Neil Warnock:

I'm personally disappointed Jose has left Chelsea as he's been a big asset to the game.

I don't think there are enough personalities like him in football.

Some people thought Mourinho saw himself as bigger than the club — but I don't think that was the case.

Personally, I think Roman Abramovich has made a mistake.

I laugh at the comments that Chelsea don't play football and aren't silky enough.

You can't turn into Arsenal or United overnight — it's taken those clubs a long time to get playing that way.

I've always enjoyed Chelsea — the spirit in the club and the way they've broken the top-two monopoly.

They played proper English football.

Steve Coppell:

The league has lost a hell of a manager. He has worked his way through, diligently watched and worked with some top managers at various clubs, sorted the wheat from the chaff, and developed his own style.

He is very strong and forceful, and you put that all in the mix and you have a very good manager.

As a manager of another club you could say it is easy to manage Chelsea because you just buy the best players, but that brings its own problems.

He had a terrific record and he will take some replacing.

Harry Redknapp:

He was a terrific character. When he came into the country in the first year or two he was a breath of fresh air.

I liked him very much. Whenever I met him I always found him a nice guy, good company.

He is a top, top manager, one of the top ones in the world. It's a surprise he's gone.

And even someone who was purportedly on bad terms with him, Arsene Wenger:

Of course he is a great manager. He arrived when Chelsea were on the way up; they had a good side already and he did something more and made them winners.

He deserves a lot of credit for that because it is never easy to win and in England it is maybe more difficult.

We didn't get on the best but recently it has become better. That does not hide the fact I respected what he did and the quality of his work.

Kudos

We lost the league officially by drawing with the Arse. 1-0 down at half-time, 10 men against 11, but still outplayed them in the second half. The fighting spirit displayed was the best I've ever seen, and that's saying something considering the number of last minute goals we've scored under JM. JM and players went over to the singing fans afterwards, and there were plenty of hugs. Best 45 mins I've seen all season. Wish that spirit could have been there against the Scousers.

Nothing but respect from Chelsea fans for Manure's title win. Going out in Europe to the Scousers was unbearable precisely because they aren't worthy opponents. No coincidence that the two CL finalists are both not champions and are about 20 points behind this year's probable champions in their respective domestic leagues. Was hoping Manure could beat Milan and then go on to embarrass the Scousers in the final, but it was not to be.

Will be a great FA Cup final. Could not face better opponents. I would not be ashamed of losing to this Manure side.

They come, they have a look at you and then they beat you.

Alan Hansen on our CL chances:

Chelsea just keep plodding along - you always know they are going to be there at the death.

They have their detractors because they do not play with the fluency of Arsenal or Manchester United but they are more methodical.

They come, they have a look at you and then they beat you.

Why we have missed Cech

1-0 up against Pompey, 12 points behind Manure with a game in hand, 75 minutes, Pompey piling the pressure on, Andy Cole getting free headers galore in the box with makeshift centreback Essien losing him repeatedly. Cech makes two brilliant saves from aforesaid headers. A minute later, Ashley Cole puts a ball through for Kalou to seal the victory. JM's first reaction is to call to Cech and give him a thumbs up, thanking him for the sealed victory.

Shaun Wright-Philips is the new Gronkjaer.