Ex-Chelsea starlet digs deep for some Mourinho magic

Nov 8 2012 By Matt Lewis

Jose Mourinho Image 2

HILLINGDON Borough player-boss Sam Hurrell is hoping the lessons he learned from his time under Jose Mourinho and Brendan Rodgers can help him push his side up the table.

Jack Reynolds was on target on Saturday but it was not enough as Borough went down 4-1 at Hadley and Hurrell’s boys find themselves in 19th place in the Spartan South Midlands Premier standings.

Hurrell, who won Sky television’s Football Icon show in 2005, has vowed to draw on the knowledge he gained from his time as a player at Stamford Bridge in order to correct the slide with his new club.

“Mourinho was the first-team manager when I signed with Brendan Rodgers as my youth and reserve-team manager,” said the former Blues defender. “Their attention to detail was certainly something that rubbed off on me. You don’t realise how much preparation goes into their sides until you see it for yourself.

“Hopefully I can bring some of that to this level and that will stand me in good stead. I know the boys here and they trust me and listen to me because they know where I have learned things from. The training at Chelsea was unbelievable.

“Mourinho is a big personality, he’s just like he is on TV. I was pretty nervous around him. He would always give you a clip round the ear to acknowledge you – that was his way of saying hello. He was as imposing as he is in his interviews.”

As if Mourinho and Rodgers were not enough, Hurrell has spent time learning from more of the game’s giants during his time working at the Premier League outfit as a youth coach – a position he still holds.

“I work with some of the best coaches and at one of best facilities in the country,” he said. “We have a lot of in-house training where you get to learn from the first-team coaches. I learned from Felipe Scolari and Andre Villas-Boas. I need to continue my own development.”

Hurrell will have his work cut out this weekend as Hillingdon face a daunting trip to high-flying Aylesbury.