Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has named Dutch star Wesley Sneijder and Brazilian Deco as the perfect number 10’s. 

  • By Michael Bell
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mourinho sneiChelsea star Eden Hazard has pleaded with Mourinho to play him in his preferred role just behind the central striker, but the coach doesn’t believe the Belgian has what it takes to be a number ten. Mourinho referenced Wesley Sneijder and Brazilian Deco as his favourite players for that role.

Mourinho is quoted by the Telegraph saying, “We have different concepts of number 10, me and him,”

“For me a number 10 does a lot of things, with the ball and without the ball. So for me a number 10 is a very special player in my team.

“With a system of two midfield players and one number 10, I demand a lot from a number 10.

“I like a number 10 to score goals. I like a number 10 to get in the box. I like a number 10 to score goals like Oscar’s against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

“A number 10 for me is an eight-and-a-half when the team loses the ball, and the number 10 is a nine-and-a-half when the team has the ball.

“Who is my perfect number 10? Wesley Sneijder and Deco. Because they could defend, get in the box and finish goals? Yes.”

Sneijder played under Mourinho for Inter Milan and inspired the Italian side to the treble in 2010 including the Champions League trophy.




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