Chelsea Looking to Show Unity and Team Spirit With Hugs in Post-Mourinho Era

Chelsea have been working hard to promote an image of togetherness and unity since Jose Mourinho was sacked last month and mass team hugs every time a goal is scored appears to be the way they are doing it.

According to a report by the Daily Mail, a team meeting led by senior players John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic in the wake of Mourinho's high profile Stamford Bridge departure focused on the issue of moving on from an unsavoury few months.

The professional integrity of a number of Chelsea players had been questioned during the first few months of the season and it was necessary to start afresh.

As such, it is said that one of the conclusions from that meeting was that every Chelsea goal will now be celebrated by all 10 outfield players on the pitch in a show of unity from the team.

Before, many of them looked disinterested. Now, they look more like the Chelsea sides of years gone by in the Roman Abramovich era - one that it capable of almost managing itself. And every goal since Mourinho left has been celebrated by all 10 outfield players.

At one of his first team meetings, interim manager Guus Hiddink, a man who was very popular with the players during his first spell in charge in 2009, is rumoured to have made it clear that he will do his best to protect each individual.

                  
That sentiment will no doubt have been a breath of fresh air for the playing staff, many of whom were publicly criticised, and in some cases humiliated, by Mourinho earlier in the campaign.

Whatever has gone on behind the scenes in the last three weeks, it appears to be working. Chelsea are now unbeaten since Mourinho's last game in charge, a run of four Premier League games, and marked the New Year with a 3-0 win in what could have been a very difficult outing against Crystal Palace.

Source: 90Min