Two-faced Mourinho forced me out: Glen

LONDON – England defender Glen Johnson claimed Sunday that a breakdown in trust with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho lead to his departure from the Premier League club.

Johnson, who this week completed a 17 million pound (25 million dollars) move from Portsmouth to Liverpool, accused Mourinho of breaking promises when they were both at Stamford Bridge.And Johnson said he knew he could not continue with the club when he did not feature against Barcelona in the Champions League.’I remember the lowest point was when Chelsea were set to play Barcelona in the Champions League,’ said Johnson, who later moved to Portsmouth for 4 million pounds.’We had a couple of Premier League games to play before we played Barca, and Mourinho picked me for one of those games and told me in front of five witnesses that if I played well I would keep the shirt.’I immediately told my agent that it didn’t matter how well I played I would be dropped – because Mourinho wouldn’t want me anywhere near the team for the Barcelona game.’Sure enough, I was voted man of the match – and I was dropped from the squad.’Johnson has still not figured out why he did not figure in the plans of the Portuguese coach who is now with Inter Milan.’You would have to ask Jose Mourinho what his reasons were, but I know it was because he didn’t want to see me play well again and be forced to pick me for the Barcelona game.’That was the day I knew I had to leave Chelsea. Managers have to stick to their word. You have to be able to trust them.’ – Nampa-AFP