Birmingham City: Why Alex McLeish wants to copy Jose Mourinho

Feb 27 2010 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

IF IT’S good enough for the ‘Special One’ then it’s good enough for Alex McLeish.

Blues’ very own ‘Special One’, Big Eck, was struck by comments made by the Inter Milan boss on what he found when he walked into Chelsea.

Mourinho instantly demanded change behind the scenes and in the culture of the club – and Roman Abramovich listened.

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“Did you see Mourinho’s stuff at the weekend?” asked McLeish.

“He said he could not believe his eyes when he stepped into Chelsea’s training ground. He had to hang his clothes on a nail hammered into the wall and the watched the first team squad going through their routines on a school playing field.

“He said that ‘it’s more possible to win with the right set-up and right conditions and support than by spending money’.

“When Roman Abramovich came in, the first thing he did was buy players.

“Then he began to build the best training ground in the world after talking to Mourinho.”

That’s why McLeish has been stressing the importance of up-grading Wast Hills and improving the support staff numbers and expertise.

“He’s talking about it, infrastructure, and it’s vital. If you want to maintain Premier League status, at a good level, it is imperative,’’ he added.

“It increases players’ morale. They feel good about the place, feel good about the club.

“And, at the end of the day, I know nowadays players are a little bit mollycoddled, but when you are in the richest league in the world and reportedly the best, you have to do it right.”

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