John Terry reveals Mourinho’s surprising method for spying on opposing teams.

John Terry, a former iconic figure at Chelsea, delivered a remarkable anecdote about José Mourinho and the methods used by the Portuguese coach during his first time at Stamford Bridge. In 2005, Mourinho reportedly got hold of a video from a Bolton training session, then managed by Sam Allardyce. The footage particularly showed the English coach giving instructions to his players to exploit the weaknesses of William Gallas, who was a defender for the Blues at the time.

In remarks reported by talkSPORT, John Terry said he discovered particularly surprising footage with his teammates. “We were watching a video and suddenly, Sam Allardyce appeared at Bolton’s training, saying: ‘Hit Gallas, he’s weak in the air.’ He was spitting and talking like that into the microphone,” the former English defender recounted. A segment that particularly intrigued Terry. “I thought: ‘My God, who films other teams’ training sessions?’ I still don’t know where Mourinho found this footage!” he added.

A 5-1 Victory Against Bolton

A few days later, Chelsea decisively beat Bolton (5-1) in the league. A victory that contributed to the Blues’ conquest of the Premier League title that season. John Terry also reflected on José Mourinho’s departure in 2007 and the feelings of guilt he still experiences about it. The former Chelsea captain believes that an event that occurred in the Champions League might have contributed to undermining the Portuguese manager’s position.

“I would leave this pitch in a coffin for him. Imagine grown men, tears in their eyes, not really understanding why. And even today, I think: it’s my fault,” he confessed. He went on: “During the draw in the Champions League, my player scored. If I hadn’t let him score, would he have stayed a few more years? Who knows? I still feel a bit responsible for that.” Terry also acknowledged being deeply affected by how Mourinho’s adventure ended. “Honestly, it’s really disappointing the way it ended. I loved and adored him deeply, and I was more upset than anyone else, to be honest”, he stated.

José Mourinho left Chelsea in September 2007, after several months of tension with the club’s management and owner Roman Abramovich. The Portuguese coach returned to Stamford Bridge in 2013, after his time at Real Madrid. However, this second term ended prematurely in December 2015, after two and a half seasons marked notably by another Premier League title in 2015.