It’s something that has been gently and quietly whispered amongst some fans of Chelsea FC, mooted by those who are interested in a wider debate and pondered amongst the few that question but do not dare to appear publicly treacherous or mutinous. Can Jose Mourinho coach a team to be beautiful?
This six part series will examine Jose Mourinho’s history as one of the most successful coaches of the modern era; intertwine, analyse and chart the Chelsea revolution under owner Roman Abramovich; and explore the answer to the question: Can Jose Mourinho coach a team to be beautiful?
For Part 1: Mourinho and the Roman Revolution Click here.
For Part 2: Post-Jose Blues Click here.
Part III
Jose’s Spanish Inquisition
In leaving Inter Milan to join Real Madrid immediately after winning the Champions League in 2010, Jose Mourinho arguably came up against his toughest opponent.
Pep Guardiola’s FC Barcelona had been receiving plaudits around the world for their tika-taka brand of football. Journalists around the globe had been calling this Barcelona team the greatest team of all time, with forward Lionel Messi the undoubted star of the show.
Akin to encountering Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ when in charge at Chelsea, Mourinho almost knew he couldn’t beat Barca by playing them at their own game. There needed to be a difference, and so he decided Real Madrid needed to be tougher.
El Clasico during Mourinho’s reign as boss became toxic. In his first ten Clasico’s Real Madrid won just once. A solitary 1-0 victory in the Copa Del Rey Final after extra time following a 0-0 90 minute result. As with Arsene Wenger in England and Marcello Lippi in Italy, Jose used the media to clash with Pep Guardiola. Having been former allies at the Camp Nou in the Bobby Robson years, the relationship between former coach and ex-player was obviously strained.
The media war between the pair came to a spectacular head before the Champions League Semi-final between Real Madrid and Barcelona in 2011.
“We have started a new cycle,” said Jose. “Up until now there was a very small group of coaches who didn’t talk about referees and a very large group, in which I am included, who criticise referees. Now, with Pep’s comments, we have started a new era with a third group, featuring only one person, a man who criticises the referee when he makes good decisions. This is completely new to me.”
Pep had a long standing rule of being the better and and turning the other cheek. “I know Mourinho and he’s trying to provoke me into a reaction, but it won’t work. I’m not going to react. I’m not going to answer back. Only when I think the time is right,” he told assistants.
He sensed the time was right. He entered the press room at the Santiago Bernabeu, home of Real Madrid, and said “Señor Mourinho has permitted himself the luxury of calling me Pep, so I will call him Jose. Tomorrow at 8.45pm we face each other on the pitch. He has won the battle off the pitch. If he wants his own personal Champions League trophy away from the pitch, let him take it home and enjoy it. In this room [Real Madrid press room] Mourinho is the f***ing chief, the f***ing boss. He knows all about this and I don’t want to compete with him in here. I’d just like to remind him that I worked with him for four years [at Barcelona]. He knows me and I know him.”
“If he prefers to value the views of the journalist friends who take their information in a drip feed from Florentino Pérez more than the relationship we had for four years then that’s his choice. I try to learn from Jose on the pitch, but I prefer to learn as little as possible from him off the pitch.”
This gave Pep Guardiola a huge boost within his squad but also with the media. He was a man not to be intimidated by Mourinho and by his media assaults. His team were going to do it on the pitch.
Another fiery contest saw Pepe sent off for Real Madrid, Mourinho sent to the stands for his sarcastic protestations at the red card, and Lionel Messi scored twice in the final 15 minutes to give Barca a 2-0 away lead. Barcelona went on to win the tie 3-1 after a 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou.
The following 2011-12 season, Real Madrid won La Liga with a Spanish league record goal scoring tally of 121. They also broke the record for the most points in a season (100 points), the most wins in a season (32/38), most away wins in a season (16/19) and most points won away from home in a single season (50/57).
It says much about the rivalry between the Clasico superpowers that Barcelona equalled the most points in a season and most wins in a season record the following year.
Coming up in Part IV – Managers, Munich and Madrid: Chelsea’s Revolving Door continues to swing round, THAT final in Munich and the end is nigh for Jose at Real Madrid
Main Photo: MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 17: Head coach Jose Mourinho of Real Madrid look on during the Copa del Rey Final match between Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 17, 2013 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Helios de la Rubia/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
