Mourinho urges Nations Cup change

By Nicolas White

Jose Mourinho feels the timing of the Nations Cup should be changed

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has warned African football's governing body Caf the prospects of players from the continent are being damaged by the timing of the African Cup of Nations.

The 16-team tournament, which is held every two years in between January and February, has upset European coaches as it takes place during a crucial time in their season.

But Chelsea manager Mourinho, who this year was involved in wrangles over releasing players for the Cup of Nations, believes the scheduling of the competition means less clubs will sign talent from Africa.

He even stated he would never take the risk of signing more than one player from any African country until Caf moved the showpiece event to the European close season.

Caf insisted in February that it would not bow to pressure from Europe's top club and switch dates.

"With the African Nations Cup being played at a crucial time in European leagues, it brings up an enormous problem in terms of contradictory interests," Mourinho wrote in the Portuguese daily sports paper Record.

"The national teams are protected by legislation, the clubs are without legal power to fight for their interests.

I don't give up on African talent and its footballing characteristics Jose Mourinho

"Chelsea without Drogba, Liverpool without Sissoko, Arsenal without Toure, Barcelona without Eto'o, Porto without Benni McCarthy, Benfica without Pedro Mantorras are some examples which leave us weakened and which surely push as to ask the question 'is it worth signing them?'

"In the discussions regarding my three Africans I found three completely different solutions.

"With Cameroon everything was resolved with a bit of common sense.

"Knocked out of the World Cup, with the African Nations Cup crucial, obvious pressure on the team, ten days of meaningful preparation.

"Chelsea release Geremi even before the start of the training camp so that he can rest from the period of four games over the festive period. It's simple, logical, easy, good sense and nothing more.

"Essien (faced) a different scenario because of his injury, but from the meeting with his national team coach the conclusion was reached that he is turning into a player of worldwide dimension and his development in European football is decisive in that process.

"It is obvious that Ghana needs Essien but, at the same time, Ghana wanted to show Chelsea recognition for its contribution.

"We spoke about joint action and a joint plan for the player.

"The conclusion was that the country would do without him in the initial stage and we would 'divide the player' in the period when, by law, the country could retain him.

"For me, that was good sense, communication, respect for different interests, a clear notion of 'our player' instead of 'my player.'

"Finally, Didier Drogba and Ivory Coast. Drogba could not play in a match for the club which paid millions for him, in order to have training with his country's national team.

"Is it be because of that one day of training that Henri Michel will win the African Nations Cup? I doubt it.

"If they win, they will win because they have extraordinary players which European clubs helped them to produce.

"I won't give up on African talent and its footballing characteristics.

"I will continue to contribute towards its progress but never with more than one player from the same country, because I cannot be in the hands of good sense or the lack of it."