He is the Special One! Oscar hails Mourinho's impact on Chelsea return

Chelsea midfielder Oscar has paid tribute to manager Jose Mourinho in the Portuguese’s second spell at Stamford Bridge.



The Brazilian playmaker has been a key man for the Blues so far this season, cementing the central role behind the striker and starting in all four matches.

He was key for Chelsea in the Super Cup final against Bayern Munich, which ultimately ended in disappointment with the German side winning on penalties in a role-reversal of the Champions League final in 2012.

Strike a pose: Chelsea midfielder Oscar has hailed the return of Jose Mourinho (below) to Stamford Bridge

Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho (right) and Chelsea Assistant First Team Coach Steve Holland (left)

Now Mourinho has been hailed by the 21-year-old as already developing his game this summer and instilling new confidence in him.

‘It’s been great to work with Jose Mourinho. He is one of the best coaches in the world. We have seen he has already had a lot of success at Chelsea and I am just really happy to have the opportunity to work with him,’ Oscar told the club’s official magazine.

‘You can already see the influence he has had on us during the first few games and I hope the team will be able to continue to grow under him as I will also be able to grow as a player.

‘As early as pre-season we could see the belief with which he works. We could see the confidence he has with us as players but also the confidence within his own work. It is clear to us that he is a great coach.

Steel: Oscar, tackling Bayern Muncih's Arjen Robben, has added a tenacity to his game in the Premier League

World stage: Oscar battles with Bayern's Javi Martinez in the Super Cup final last week

‘For example, at half time he speaks very clearly about how the game is going, how he sees that developing in the second half and he is always instilling his confidence in us. 

‘Speaking the same language we have been able to converse in Portuguese about my game and the most important thing that he is imparting in me is to give me the confidence to out and play my game.’

 

Oscar made 64 appearances in his first season at the club, and looks set to play an even bigger role this term.

While either side of him wingers like Eden Hazard, Andre Schurrle and Juan Mata have been rotated, he has been the one constant in the side, collecting balls from deep and playing in attackers.

His tireless work ethic and impeccable technical ability have seen him prosper under Mourinho's guidance.

The Brazilian revealed how he had developed his game to cope with the demands of the Premier League.

‘In Brazil we know that there is more contact in the English game and that it is a more dynamic style of play. Last year, from playing here I realised that is the case,’ he said.
‘However, I have adapted my game to this and, despite it being strong and dynamic in style it is also very technical.

‘The best evidence of that is to look around you here at Chelsea and see the great technical players we have in our team. Increasingly – game by game and training session by training session we are improving and it looks like things are very well set for this season.’

Read the full interview in the October edition of Chelsea’s official magazine, on sale now for £3.25

Threaded through: Oscar plays the ball past Bayern's Dante (left) and Mario Gotze