Wayne Bridge interview: Chelsea lack leaders but they can turn their season around under Jose Mourinho

Former Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge believes the root cause of their Premier League pain is a lack of leadership in the changing room but insists José Mourinho can salvage European success from the embers of their domestic campaign.

The Blues are preparing for a potentially season-defining fixture against Porto on Wednesday night, a match which will seal their immediate Champions League fate, before travelling to face League leaders Leicester City next Monday.

Speaking to The Independent, the 35-year-old revealed he still has faith in embattled boss Mourinho to jump-start the ignition on a season which stumbles from one crisis to another.

But the former England international concedes time and patience are wearing thin for the manager who signed him from Southampton for £7m (plus Graeme Le Saux) in 2003.

“When I was there we had quite a few leaders in the changing room,” he said. “We had John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba but I don’t really see as many leaders in this side compared to when I was there.

“I don’t believe these rumours [of discontent] but if the media keep talking about it, people might start to believe it.”

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Reports have suggested Mourinho has a week to repair his stock in the thoughts of the Stamford Bridge hierarchy despite their irrepressible, if occasionally dour, charge towards the title last year.

The Independent revealed on Tuesday that Antonio Conte, the Italy head coach, will be the leading candidate should the former Internazionale and Real Madrid boss be relieved of his duties. Chelsea sit 14th in the table after an unthinkable 1-0 home defeat to an injury-ravaged Bournemouth side on Saturday evening thanks to a paralysing late winner from Glenn Murray.

A result which leaves them teetering just three points above the relegation zone - 14 adrift of their natural habitat in the top four - the Portuguese even used the 'R word' for the first time during his post-match media commitments.

Bridge added: “I keep wondering every week, is this the week they start winning? But it just doesn’t happen. With the players they have, he should definitely be able to turn it around.

“You imagine he would have already left if they were going to sack him but you never know with Roman [Abramovich, club owner] how it’s going to go. I think they can end up progressing far in the Champions League because of how their Premier League season has turned out.

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“I’m confident they will qualify from their group, for sure. Leicester are flying at the moment but Chelsea have good enough players to beat anyone on their day - it’s going to happen at some point.”

The former defender, who can include a Premier League title, FA Cup triumph and League Cup success among his career highlights, fears the top four is already out of reach for his former employers.

“I can’t see it,” he added. “But it is still possible for them to reach the top six. Both are massive asks but if any team can go on an unbelievable run, it’s Chelsea.”

After a short spell with Championship club Reading - following loan stints at West Ham United, Sunderland and Brighton - the former Manchester City full-back has been enjoying life with his family and now does promotional work on behalf of 888poker.

He continued: “My days at Southampton were similar. When we were fighting relegation there were weeks where wins were hard to come by.

“There was a difficult spell at Reading also but I’ve never gone out onto the pitch and thought ‘we can’t win this game’. I don’t know if it’s in the players’ heads and the pressure is getting too much but the ability they have should give them the confidence.”

Playing under Glenn Hoddle at St Mary’s at the turn of the millennium, Bridge notes how the former England manager’s efforts off the pitch revitalised Southampton's fortunes on it.

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Eventually leaving for Tottenham Hotspur, Hoddle reportedly maintained a steely distance from his squad in an attempt to inspire his players to stand out in training exercises.

“There are loads of different things you can do the try and fix things. The manager will get together with his coaches and try and work out the psychology side of it.

“I remember Glenn was massive on that at Southampton. Many people didn’t believe in it at the time but it definitely helped us while he was there. A lot of managers arrange team-bonding sessions while others may try and do loads of video analysis.

“It’s difficult to say which one works best, it’s about getting the balance right. I’m not a manager so I don’t have that headache. It must be a massive weight on José’s mind at the moment but he will know deep down that his squad and his own ability are good enough to turn things around.”

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