Jose Mourinho writes a weekly column entitled 'Hotel Chelsea' for the Portuguese sports daily 'Record'.

In this section read a translated summary of Mourinho's fascinating insights.

7 January 2006

The Premiership - professionalism and passion

Four matches in eight days is obviously too much, but it is possible for professional teams playing at the highest level.

Good quality training, mentally strong players, careful recovery programmes, top quality medical departments and appropriate nutrition to compensate the energy expended make it possible that even the fourth game of the series is played at high intensity.

I take my hat off to my players and all the others that in this country give the public the football they love over the festive season, playing with passion and professionalism.

When one day in the future I’m in another country and a player tells me he’s tired because he’s played two matches in a week, I don’t know how I will react…

The London derby against West Ham was an exciting match, spiced up by the rivalry between the clubs and the hate directed at one of their own, Lampard, who will never be forgiven for transferring to Chelsea. After they equalised I was forced to change things to break through a team well structured by Pardew, an excellent manager who’s doing a great job at West Ham. I thought that playing Crespo and Drogba together would force them to change the way their team was organised. I was optimistic but never thought that 30 seconds later we would score.

I was lucky, and we managed to get a maximum 12 points out of 12, enabling me to give my players a double day off, so that they could enjoy what little of Christmas they had, having passed the festive season enclosed and focussed on their work. I’m proud to work with these men, and I believe the other 19 Premiership managers must feel the same, albeit with less good results.

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