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Mourinho says Crespo never fitted in
Fri 16 July
WEST DRAYTON (Reuters/AFP) - Unhappy striker Hernan Crespo has left Chelsea because he failed to adapt to
English football and the British way of life under Claudio Ranieri, the club's new manager Jose Mourinho has said.
Crespo agreed a one-year loan to AC Milan on Thursday, sealing a similar return to Serie A as Chelsea team mate
and fellow Argentine Juan Sebastian Veron, now on loan at Inter Milan.
Mourinho made no secret of where he felt responsibility lay for the two men's failures after last year's big-money
moves to Stamford Bridge, telling a news conference on Friday: "I think you should ask Mr. Ranieri what was
wrong with them.
"Because what was wrong was last season. You have to ask why big players like Veron and Crespo did not have
enough success at Chelsea. It's not my problem. But I think the problems started with the players because they
were not happy in the past.
"Ask Ranieri why world-class players like Veron and Crespo did not do so well in the Premiership. That was his
problem, not mine," said Mourinho on Friday.
"I couldn't speak with Veron because everything was decided before I came," said the Portuguese coach who
joined last month.
"But with Hernan I was open, saying 'I don't like to work with people with problems, people who are not happy'.
He's not happy in the club, he's not happy socially, and he's not happy in the family because he's not happy in his
job."
By contrast, another of last season's signings, Romanian striker Adrian Mutu, has made it clear to Mourinho he
wants to stay and fight for his place.
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