The self anointed Special One has done it again. He has made headlines. This time on the controversial side of things. During a Champions League match vs. Ajax, Real Madrid was leading the match 4-0 well into the second half. Then Midfielder Xabi Alonso did the unthinkable he took a free kick he should never have been taking and he went on to take as much time as he pleased, so the referee gave him a yellow card, since Xabi had already been given a yellow card he was sent off. Later on, a goal kick was awarded to Los Blancos, and instead of goalkeeper Iker Casillas taking the goal kick, right back Sergio Ramos was given the duty of taking the goal kick, and Ramos did the same thing Alonso did, he stalled and he himself was also sitting on a yellow card and was therefore sent off.
So where does Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho fit into all this? Well it has been alleged that he told Alonso and Ramos to get sent off so they can get a clean yellow card slate for the next round. Alonso and Ramos will miss the next group game which is a meaningless game for Real Madrid since they have won their group. And UEFA is launching an investigation into the incidents.
Many pundits have scoffed at this sort of tactic used by Jose. People have called it "wrong" ,"anti-football", and one even said I hope they don't win the Champions League. Is it just me or am I the only one who enjoys the genius in this move? I'm sorry maybe I'm not an old fashioned football fan but the genius behind this maneuver is incredible. Sure its unorthodox but hey as long as it works, it works.
Mourinho has been known to be very headline grabbing, whether its in his press conferences or his antics on the touch line. However, all of them have worked for whatever task they were supposed to complete. Even his in game tactics have been a bit unorthodox. For example, last year when he was managing Inter Milan, his Inter side had a 3-1 aggregate lead heading into the away leg against Barcelona. Early in the game Inter was forced to play with 10 men after one was sent off. Mourinho responded by putting 10 men behind the ball and they would boot the ball deep into Barca territory every time they took possession of the ball. The result was a day where Inter had 17% possession, and they ended up losing 1-0 to Barcelona but advanced to the Final on aggregate scoreline. After the match Mourinho called it "the most beautiful loss".
Jose has been called a "devil of football" among other names by some coaches as well as high ranking UEFA officials. Yet the Special One has won 2 Champions League titles as well as several league titles with Inter Milan, Chelsea, and FC Porto.
This Monday, is the "El Clasico" the derby match in Spain between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Every year, this match usually decides who will go on to win La Liga. It is my feeling that Jose planned this controversy ahead of the "El Clasico" to keep the pressure off his players and put the pressure on himself. Mourinho has done this all year and Galactico Cristiano Ronaldo has responded well with the pressure off him by scoring a lead leading 14 goals in league play.
As a Barcelona/Fulham fan, I believe Jose Mourinho is the best manager in the world. He has been a rival of both my teams and I think the world of football could use more characters like him. Call him a disgrace to the game all you want but I myself believe that Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola needs to consider being a little more like the Special One.
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