LONDON -- Jose Mourinho is perhaps the only manager who can complete a season at Chelsea without a trophy and not face any calls for his sacking or a fans revolt. Jimmie Foxx Red Sox Jersey . What a difference to the way Rafa Benitez was treated -- and the many managers before him. The Spaniard led Chelsea to the Europa League title last year -- a competition sneered at in England but still a leading honour -- and yet jeering supporters were still counting down the days until Mourinho would return to replace him. Yet it is Benitez, not his nemesis, ending this campaign with a trophy, having won the Italian Cup at Napoli. It seems that little, though, can diminish Chelseas infatuation with Mourinho, however dull the football has been at times this season, however antagonistic he has been toward referees, however much he has scolded his players in public. Mourinho knows he can get away with it, for now, without facing backlash from owner Roman Abramovich and the fans who spent so long calling for the return of the self-styled "Special One," who won all three domestic trophies at least once during his 2004-07 reign. Despite an acrimonious exit from Real Madrid after finishing last season without silverware, Mourinho points out how he rebuffed other employment opportunities to rekindle the Chelsea love affair. "I had lots of chances to have easy fairytales, I decided not to have it," Mourinho said after Chelseas realistic hopes of winning the Premier League ended on Sunday. "If I want to win leagues easily, I would choose another league. I would choose another club with another moment that in this moment Chelsea does not have. ... I chose with my heart every aspect the club I want, the club I love, a competition I like very much to play, a city where I like very much to live." Mourinhos missive: Be grateful I returned. Having exhausted so much energy during Mourinhos absence pleading "We want our Chelsea back," the fans can hardly complain that there will be no parade down Kings Road this year. Abramovich, who acceded to the crowds demands, has put away his axe after going through seven managers in the six years between Mourinhos reigns, and is giving the Portuguese the time to forge a new squad without instant silverware. "Chelsea had a fantastic decade but that team, step by step, is disappearing," Mourinho told the BBC. "I came in a moment when there is a transitional moment of the big players of the last decade. Some are not here (anymore) and some are at a certain age, and the younger players are at the beginning of a process." Captain John Terry, left back Ashley Cole, and midfielder Frank Lampard, whose contracts are expiring, were deeply emotional as the stalwarts left the pitch after Sundays final home game of the season, a drab 0-0 draw with Norwich. Chelsea would need Manchester City and Liverpool to lose their two remaining games while winning its own season-ender at Cardiff to win the title. Theres little chance of that happening, so the focus is on the summer transfer window when Mourinho has to bring in a goal-scorer -- Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa is the top target -- to ensure Chelsea doesnt endure another campaign of malaise up front. Samuel Etoo has 14 goals, Fernando Torres 10, and Demba Ba eight. Thats just 32 goals between them. Luis Suarez has netted 30 alone for Liverpool despite missing the start of the season while completing a biting ban and not having European matches to augment his tally. "We dont have the kind of striker able to, in a short space, to make an action, to score a goal, to open the gate," Mourinho said in his latest public criticism of his players. Mourinho demands an attacking player with a "killer instinct". The caveat -- "respecting obviously that we have good strikers" -- seems half-hearted, but he has to extract good money for them to fund the squad rebuilding while working within UEFAs Financial Fair Play rules. Mourinho could test the limits of his bond with fans if he offloads winger Eden Hazard, who was crowned the leagues young player of the year but then rebuked for his performance in last weeks Champions League elimination against Atletico Madrid. In January, though, he sold Juan Mata, the clubs player of the year for the previous two seasons, to Manchester United, jettisoning a creative force from the squad. Have they missed Mata? Chelseas problem hasnt been beating title rivals, completing the double over Liverpool, crushing Arsenal 6-0 at home and drawing away, and winning at Manchester City. What has proved so costly is dropping points while unable to break down weaker teams. The stalemate against relegation-threatened Norwich followed draws in 2014 against West Ham and West Bromwich Albion. Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Sunderland have also managed to beat the 2005, 2006 and 2010 league champions. "We had some limitations in terms of scoring enough goals to win all these kinds of matches against the teams with a more defensive approach," Mourinho acknowledged. "We know that we need a different kind of quality." It was said without a hint of irony, given the ultra-defensive tactics Mourinho employed in an attempt to exploit rivals on the counterattack. Next year, Mourinho will be expected to deliver more expansive football to thrill the crowds -- and a trophy. If he doesnt, perhaps even Chelsea fans will run out of patience with the "Special One." Marco Hernandez Red Sox Jersey . Thaddeus Young scored seven of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, Evan Turner added 22 points, and the 76ers hung on for their first road win since Nov. 1, beating the depleted Los Angeles Lakers 111-104 on Sunday night. Dwight Evans Jersey .Y. -- AJ Allmendingers journey is almost complete. https://www.cheapredsox.com/1111z-ted-williams-jersey-red-sox.html . It is unclear how long Kallstrom, who was brought in to alleviate the teams midfield problems, will be sidelined. Arsenals communications director, Mark Gonnella, says the club decided to proceed with Kallstroms signing despite the injury.TORONTO -- T.J. Brennan couldnt have asked for a better debut with the Toronto Marlies. The 24-year-old defenceman scored his first-career hat trick and set up Trevor Smiths overtime goal as Toronto edged the visiting Grand Rapids Griffins 4-3 on Saturday in American Hockey League action. Brennan, who has three two-goal performances in 226 AHL games, was acquired in the off-season by Toronto for his offensive capabilities, but even he was surprised by his performance. "I think thats a first for me there," said Brennan about his hat trick. "I just wanted to start the season off simple. You throw it to the net and good things can happen. I got a couple lucky bounces." The Marlies (1-0-0) caught a break in overtime when Griffins defenceman Brennan Evans was penalized for closing his hand on the puck in the crease. While leading the 4-on-3 power play, Brennan spotted Smith with a pass, who one-timed it past goaltender Jared Coreau off the post and in at 2:59. "We got better as the game went on but theyre a quick transition team and you have to play good smart hockey," Brennan said about the 2013 Calder Cup champions. "We did a good job for the most part." David Broll chipped in two assists for Toronto while Smith added an assist for a two-point outing. Mitch Callahan, Riley Sheahan and Tomas Jurco supplied the offence for the Griffins (1-0-1), who opened their season Friday with an 8-1 win over the Rochester Americans. Drew MacIntyre stopped 27 shots for the win as Coreau made 22 saves in defeat. Brennan opened the scoring with a wrist shot from the slot at 5:25 of the first period, but Jurco and Sheehan scored less than two minutes apart to put Grand Rapids up 2-1 after 20 minutes of play. Hector Velazquez Red Sox Jersey. Brennan tied it with a power-play goal at 12:19 of the second period, and then put the Marlies ahead a little over three minutes later with another point shot. Toronto couldnt hold the lead, though, as Callahan redirected a no-look backhand pass from Jurco to tie the game 3-3 less than five minutes into the third period. "Theyre opportunistic and we turned over pucks in the neutral zone and they made us pay for it," said Marlies coach Steve Spott. The Marlies had to overcome a lack of discipline late in the third just to force overtime as Brad Ross picked up back-to-back minor penalties, followed by Andrew MacWilliam, who was served a five-minute major and game misconduct for boarding. "Im really proud of our team for killing that off at that moment of the game," said Brennan. Brennan was paired all game with NHL veteran John-Michael Liles, who was playing in his first AHL game since being demoted by the Maple Leafs last Sunday. While Liles didnt show up on the score sheet, Spott was more than pleased with what he brought to the lineup. "Hes always talking on the bench and calming guys down on the back end," said Spott. "His experience is invaluable to us right now." Toronto went 2-for-8 on the power play while Grand Rapids failed to score on six chances with the man advantage. The Marlies will host the Lake Erie Monsters on Sunday. ' ' '