Skip to main content
Come Fan with UsSaturday, June 20, 2026

Jose Mourinho says he’ll bench Chelsea’s stars for kids if they keep losing

This should be fun.

Steve Welsh/Getty Images

Want Backheel Breakfast in your inbox? Sign up for the email version here.

“I am ruthless,” said Jose Mourinho on Monday, which even makes perfect sense out of context. The context is that he was at a press conference ahead of his team’s Champions League match against FC Porto, and he said he’d replace all of Chelsea’s stars with kids if he had to.

“If the season goes in one direction, that it becomes closed and we can’t win [trophies], I will go just with the kids,” said Mourinho. “It makes no sense, when you have nothing to win, to play the older players. I’ll play the players we’re waiting for instead. I can arrive in a moment where I will look to the kids and say, ‘Let’s go. Non-stop.’ I am ruthless.”

It seems unlikely that Chelsea drops out of trophy and top four contention anytime soon, but we’re certainly looking forward to seeing a lot more Nathan, Kenedy and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Goal of the day

It’s just a penalty, but this dude drinks a beer after he scores it.

In the news

Surprise! FIFA banned Jack Warner for life. (Telegraph)

Bournemouth star Callum Wilson is out for at least six months. (AFC Bournemouth)

The Volkswagen scandal could seriously cripple Wolfsburg. (BBC)

A Turkish referee made a huge error and then instantly went on live TV to apologize. (Guardian)

Jordi Alba is back in Barcelona’s squad after recovering from an injury. (AS)

Manchester City got a boost too, with three of their stars returning to training. (Mirror)

Giuseppe Rossi has signed a new deal with Fiorentina. (Football Italia)

You should be reading

Mike Goodman on how Barcelona will replace Lionel Messi. (Grantland)

Dominic Fifield on Mandela Egbo, an Englishman at Borussia Mönchengladbach. (Guardian)

Mohamed Mohamed on Lyon’s rebuilding project. (Stats Bomb)

Monday’s games

Romelu Lukaku trucked West Brom. What if Everton got him the ball more?

What to watch on Tuesday (click for listings, all times ET)

Champions League: Eight games (2:45 p.m.) - Porto-Chelsea is the best of the bunch.

Liga MX: Six games (from 6 p.m.) - Rare midweek Mexican league soccer!

SIGN UP FOR OUR SOCCER NEWSLETTER

Get all kinds of stories, rumors, game coverage, and Vines of dudes getting hit in the beans in your inbox every day.

More in Soccer

Soccer
World Cup 2026 bracket: Who has advanced to the knockout round?World Cup 2026 bracket: Who has advanced to the knockout round?
Soccer

What teams have advanced to the knockout round at the World Cup?

By Mark Schofield
Soccer
USMNT World Cup schedule: How to watch every U.S. match, scores, and moreUSMNT World Cup schedule: How to watch every U.S. match, scores, and more
Soccer

How to watch every USMNT match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

By Mark Schofield
Soccer
Christian Pulisic injury updates: UMSNT star out for Australia World Cup matchChristian Pulisic injury updates: UMSNT star out for Australia World Cup match
Soccer

The U.S. star is day-to-day with a calf injury in the World Cup. Here’s the latest.

By Mark Schofield
Soccer
USMNT playing for Unofficial World Championship against AustraliaUSMNT playing for Unofficial World Championship against Australia
Soccer

Qualifying for the knockout stage could come with an extra bonus on Friday.

By Bernd Buchmasser
Soccer
USA vs. Australia World Cup preview: Analysis and tacticsUSA vs. Australia World Cup preview: Analysis and tactics
Soccer
Raúl Rangel’s ‘save of the tournament’ helps Mexico win World Cup Group ARaúl Rangel’s ‘save of the tournament’ helps Mexico win World Cup Group A
Soccer

Mexico keeper Raúl Rangel made a pair of spectacular saves to help preserve a 1-0 win over South Korea

By Mark Schofield