Oscar talks up influence of Jose Mourinho at Chelsea

The Brazilian has started the season strongly

Chelsea playmaker Oscar (GETTY IMAGES)

Chelsea midfielder Oscar has been quick to praise the work done by Jose Mourinho since the Portuguese returned to Stamford Bridge for a second spell in charge.

The 21-year-old Brazil international has started all four of the Blues' matches so far this season, scoring in their opening Barclays Premier League fixture at home to Hull.

Mourinho has seemingly put his faith in Oscar despite signing the likes of Marco van Ginkel, Andre Schurrle and Willian, with Kevin De Bruyne also returning to the club after a spell out on loan.

Former Internacional man Oscar is looking to build on an impressive first season in English football and believes he will benefit from the managerial prowess of Mourinho.

"It's been great to work with Jose Mourinho," he told the club's official magazine, Chelsea FC.

"He is one of the best coaches in the world. We have seen he has already had a lot of success at Chelsea and I am just really happy to have the opportunity to work with him.

"You can already see the influence he has had on us during the first few games and I hope the team will be able to continue to grow under him as I will also be able to grow as a player.

"As early as pre-season we could see the belief with which he works. We could see the confidence he has with us as players but also the confidence within his own work. It is clear to us that he is a great coach."

Oscar, who is likely to feature in Brazil's upcoming friendlies against Australia and Portugal, played in Chelsea's 2-1 Europa League final success against Benfica at the end of last season and has the taste for more success this year, with personal targets also in place.

"It's all down to confidence," he said.

"I feel a lot more confident this year and I am sure that I am going to score a lot more goals.

"I am ambitious for this season and I am happy with the way things are going for me at the moment. We have started well and I want to make sure that this is a big year, a year in which Chelsea win titles."

Having been named in Mourinho's starting XI for the opening four games, Oscar will be in the best position to achieve his ambitions over the course of the current campaign.

The same could not be said for his Chelsea team-mate Juan Mata as the club's player of the year for 2012/13 continues to struggle to find a place in Mourinho's side.

Having yet to make a start, it was expected the Spaniard could secure a move away from Stamford Bridge in the transfer window, with Arsenal and Paris St Germain reportedly interested in the 25-year-old.

But he remains a Chelsea player and will continue to challenge the likes of Oscar for a place in Mourinho's team as the returning boss looks to bring more silverware to west London.

PA