As Jose Mourinho’s astounding nine year unbeaten home league record is finally ended, could he be tempted to start building the foundations of a new one, back on English soil? Ever the character and admittedly one for a dispute, Jose is reportedly ill at ease with his paymasters, not helped by the effervescent Barcelona striding comfortably clear in La Liga, writes Charles Harris.
Whether he does or not, it will surely never be bettered. Most teams and managers can only go nine months unbeaten at home before awaking. To go over nine years, nine whole seasons without departing pointless is one of the feats of recent years.
Not everyone’s choice, but one suspects sports writers everywhere have Jose prioritised on their wish lists, such is his ability to fill papers and cover column inches. Controversy and opinion follow him wherever he goes, but where would he go?
He speaks of “unfinished business”, of which he has in West London, but doesn’t seem the type to reopen a closed door. Either Mourinho or Abramovich would have to swallow their pride, and neither seems the type. Both the red and blue half of Manchester could certainly come calling, but just how do you follow Sir Alex Ferguson? Such is his abundance of enthusiasm you could be forgiven for thinking he intends to breach the nines sat in the Old Trafford dug out.
Perhaps Eastlands would be the Portuguese’s choice, though he would be asked to purvey a similar service to the one already performed, a team on the cusp of silverware, and with a blank chequebook to hand. Tottenham have been mooted, but the Portuguese knows of the rivalrous nature that exists between Harry’s high flyers and his former employers, and respect for that would perhaps be enough to dissuade him.
Kenny Dalglish has surely secured his spot in the manager’s dug out for the foreseeable future, such has been his impact, on the dressing room, performance, and subsequent league position, ruling out the Alderly Edge neighbourhood having to increase their door sizes.
Charismatic, witty, Mourinho is extremely intelligent. Post game rants, that seemed ludicrous, or exuberant, were often designed to simply deflect the attention and pressure away from a poor individual or team performance, he made sure the attention was all on him, just how he likes it anyway.
When he made a substitution, you knew strength of thought and analysis had entered in to it, results inevitably followed. His mid game notes became notorious, perhaps just worded with encouragement, but more than likely tactical nous befitting his character.
Most Chelsea fans you speak to would have the Special One back in an instant. Ancelotti’s results have been popular to a point, but the laid back Italian has been exposed for the ruthless squad culling, post double success. He is reactive rather than pro active, Mourinho stops a problem before it has become one, Ancelotti attempts to plug leaks, often when already submerged.
One suspects Mourinho would relish the chance to bring the ‘trophy with big ears’ to Stamford Bridge, the only major one to have eluded them. One they have been denied time after time, and integrally to the itchy trigger finger, the one Roman Abramovich craves above all. Sweeter for him, if the Italian were to fail to deliver, never the straightest of acquaintances, when their paths crossed at the San Siro.
He has a decent chance of winning it with an unprecedented third different club this year, but he has the Champions League new boys to navigate past first. You feel Tottenham will continue to place the emphasis on attack, even though they travel to the Bernabeu for Tuesday evening’s first leg. They know an away goal or two would be priceless, for a second leg back at a vibrant, vociferous White Hart Lane. Flying winger Gareth Bale looks to be fit, and as a neutral you hope Cristiano Ronaldo is too, some match up that could be. Mourinho maintains fitness is an issue, which probably means he will play ninety minutes.
Mourinho admits to a love of the English game, it possesses that something extra that other leagues don’t offer him, a regular massage of the ego perhaps, but passion and rivalry amongst the best in the world, will attract individuals of the highest calibre.
He has that midas touch that you cannot create, coach or purchase. A Real Madrid side who have struggled in Europe for five years have progressed seamlessly through to the last eight. The ‘Special One’ will return to London for next week’s second leg, and another visit could well be required at the end of May. Whether the Premier League will be treated to a second instalment of his bravado next season remains to be seen.
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