Jose Mourinho and the breakout Celtic striker who had him swooning in Seattle – tales from USA tour 20 years on
dailyrecord.co.ukCraig Beattie recalls Jose Mourinho bigging him up after his first game as Chelsea boss when the striker slammed a double past his all-star Blues side in Washington.But even though he went on to score against Liverpool and Manchester United for a Premier League hat-trick on that 2004 US tour Beattie admits it still never felt particularly like a Special One.
Playing top class opposition was the norm for Martin O’Neill’s Celtic side back then according to the former Parkhead hitman.
And that’s the mindset he insists Brendan Rodgers’ players need two decades later as they return to the States to ramp up their preparations ahead of a massive campaign at home and abroad.Chelsea are back on the agenda next week to round off a triple-header of glamour games across the Atlantic kicking off with DC United on Sunday and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City next Wednesday.
And Beattie reckons it’s exactly the type of challenge needed to get the Hoops in the groove.Recalling his hot streak on that 2004 trip when he left John Terry and Robert Huth in his wake to net twice against the Blues, he said: “Yeah, it all went downhill after that!
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