Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho no longer feels the need to implement a 'confrontational leadership ' style with his players because their season is going largely to plan . The 52-year-old Portuguese returned to Stamford Bridge for his second spell in charge last season but got off to a disappointing start by his own high standards and failed to win any silverware in 2013-14 . This season , however , Chelsea have already won the League Cup and boast a six-point advantage over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table with a game in hand . Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has revealed he has ditched his 'confrontational leadership ' style . The Portuguese tactician insists he has had no reason to 'provoke ' his players during the current campaign . 'This season I do n't need confrontational leadership - last season I felt I needed it a few times , ' Mourinho told reporters . 'Basically , it 's when you are ready to provoke your players to try to create some conflicts with the intention to bring out the best of them . 'In this moment I do n't think I need that with this group because things are going in the direction I want . ' It has not been all smooth sailing for Mourinho this season , however , as Chelsea were knocked out of the FA Cup by League One ( third tier ) Bradford City and were eliminated in the last-16 of the Champions League by Paris St Germain . 'Obviously you can say `` but you lost in the Champions League '' , or `` you lost against Bradford '' , ' Mourinho said . Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard has matured into a 'great player ' , according to Mourinho . 'But globally , generally , the way they work , the way they behave , the way they live together , their motivations , their responsibilities , their frustrations , the way they react to the negative moments , the way they react to the positive moments , the absence of complacency , all this is going well . 'So I just need to be present . I do n't need to be a big leader , or even try to find strategies as a leader . ' Belgian forward Eden Hazard felt the wrath of Mourinho 's 'confrontational leadership ' style last season after neglecting his defensive duties during Chelsea 's Champions League semi-final exit to Atletico Madrid . Hazard , however , has been Chelsea 's standout player this season but Mourinho said he is unsure if the 24-year-old 's development is down to the criticism he received . ' I do n't know if it was that or it was his maturity coming , his level of ambition , ' he said . ' I just think that was a natural evolution . 'He wants to be the best , to improve his game , score more goals . I still call him a kid but he 's a man . He 's a great player . '
Jose Mourinho is happy with the direction his players are going in . Mourinho had to wind his players up to get reaction in previous seasons . He has done it again this season and he will continue doing so until they start playing like Real Madrid or Barcelona.