Zouma Pays Glowing Tribute To Old Boss Mourinho
Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma has paid a glowing tribute to Jose Mourinho for the impact he has had on his career.
Mourinho signed a 19-year-old Zouma from French side Saint Etienne during his second spell as Chelsea boss in 2014.
The pair were separated 18 months after they begun a working relationship as Mourinho was shown the exit following Chelsea’s poor start to the 2015/2016 season.
Nonetheless, Zouma won the Premier League and League Cup under the Portuguese’s tutelage in his first season at Chelsea.
A season-ending knee injury in February 2016 saw Zouma’s involvement in the Chelsea first team dwindle and he spent the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 seasons on loan at Stoke City and Everton respectively.
Now 25, Zouma has returned into the Stamford Bridge picture this season, making 19 appearances in all competitions under Frank Lampard.
Mourinho has recently returned to club management with Tottenham Hotspurs after being missing in action for almost a year, and Zouma has had some kind words to welcome his old boss.
“He is the one who opened the door of England to me. I was only 19 when I arrived there. That’s young,” Zouma told France Football.
“It’s also him who gave me belief by playing me in big matches with a lot of intensity. It is also he who showed me what football in England was about.
“The coach is a man who detests losing. He taught me to hate defeat.
“Thanks to him, I got to enjoy myself at Chelsea. He has given me a lot of things and taught me an enormous amount. I thank him.”
Zouma and Mourinho will be reunited in less than a month when Chelsea visit Tottenham in the Premier League on December 22.
