How Mourinho denied Chelsea player a Premier League medal

Former Chelsea striker, Carlton Cole may be the least Mourinho supporter out there after suffering one of the harshest fate a football could be met with after a successful season.

The former Chelsea striker recently unveiled one of the most disheartening moments of his career, revealing how he was denied a Premier League winners’ medal by Jose Mourinho. This revelation sheds light on the often ruthless nature of top-tier football, even within a team celebrating collective success.

During Mourinho’s first stint at Chelsea, the club enjoyed tremendous success, clinching back-to-back Premier League titles. However, not every player in the squad shared in the spoils of victory. Carlton Cole, who had been with the club since his youth, found himself just two appearances short of the requirement to earn a winners’ medal in the 2005/06 season.

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In a candid reflection, Cole described the elation of making his senior debut in a 3-0 victory against Everton in 2002 as one of the pinnacles of his career.

He recalled the overwhelming support from the fans and the sense of achievement that came with stepping onto the pitch at Stamford Bridge.

“To have the chance to play for the first team in front of 40,000 fans with everyone knowing my name and wanting me to do well was a massive high point in my career – one I’ll never forget,” Cole shared.

However, the joy of those early days stood in stark contrast to the “lowest point” he experienced on the final day of the 2005/06 season. Despite being part of the squad that dominated the league, Cole was left out of the final matches, missing the chance to qualify for a medal by just two games.

“We won the league under Jose Mourinho, but I didn’t play for the last three matches of the season because he didn’t want me to get a Premier League winners’ medal,” Cole revealed. “All I needed was to play in two games, but Jose wouldn’t let me do that. He felt that I wasn’t deserving of a medal, so in the end, I never got one.”

While Mourinho is celebrated for his managerial success, this behind-the-scenes decision highlights the ruthlessness that often accompanies top-tier football. For Cole, it was a bitter pill to swallow.