Glenn Johnson: Jose Mourinho tore up Lyon loan deal and told me to stay at Chelsea

Former Liverpool and Chelsea defender Glenn Johnson has revealed that Jose Mourinho tore up a proposed loan agreement with Olympique Lyon in front of him before ordering him to remain at the London club.

Johnson, now 42, spent four years at Chelsea, including two seasons under Mourinho during the Portuguese manager’s first spell in charge, which began in 2004. That period brought significant success, including the Premier League and League Cup double in the 2004-05 season.

Although Johnson did not play regularly under Mourinho, he said he looks back on his time at Chelsea positively and remembers having several memorable conversations with the manager.

“I have great memories of working under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea,” Johnson told The Sun. “We were winning all the time, including the Premier League and League Cup double in 2004-05.”

“Winning trophies always helps create good memories. Our confidence was at its highest and we were one of the best teams the Premier League had ever seen. Jose and I had lots of great conversations, but one stands out in particular.”

Mourinho believed Johnson needed to leave Chelsea temporarily to play more often, but wanted the defender to join a club competing in the UEFA Champions League so he could gain experience at the highest level.

Johnson subsequently secured a loan move to Olympique Lyon, who were one of Europe’s leading clubs at the time. The French side had won seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles between 2002 and 2008.

“He wanted me to go out on loan and get more playing time because I was not playing much at Chelsea,” Johnson said. “But he wanted the club to be involved in the Champions League if possible, so I could gain genuine experience.”

“I went and found an opportunity at Lyon, who were a very big deal at the time, during the period when they won the French league seven times in a row. The deal was done and I was a young player, so it was a great opportunity for me.

“But I went to tell Jose and showed him the contract. He tore it up right in front of me.”

Johnson believes Mourinho’s decision was not simply a last-minute change of plan. Instead, he felt the manager was testing whether he had the character to leave Chelsea and begin a new experience at a young age.

“I do not think he ever believed I had the courage to leave and secure a deal like that at my age,” Johnson added. “I think it was meant to be a test of character, and I passed it with flying colours because he tore up the deal and told me I was staying.”

“I had no choice. But I think he respected me more after that and started involving me more in the team.”

Johnson did eventually leave Chelsea, joining Portsmouth on loan in 2006 before making the move permanent the following year. He went on to establish himself in the Premier League before joining Liverpool in 2009, where he stayed until 2015.

He won 54 England caps during his international career and became one of the leading English full-backs of his generation.