Mourinho, the master baiter, sacrifices himself for Chelsea’s cause. What a champion!
Like players, there are few managers who can aspire to true greatness. People like Bill Shankly and Alex Ferguson come along once in a generation. For each Shankly, there are hundreds of other managers who fade into obscurity, and dozens who come close but can’t quite manage to get over the fine line that separates true greatness from the very successful.
Jose Mourinho is a very successful manager - in 4 years he has won more titles than most other managers do in a lifetime, and the man is just getting started.
Tonight, at Stamford Bridge, Jose Mourinho will make his first play towards being truly great.
Let’s be honest - Jose Mourinho isn’t a well-liked man, even if his management skills are deeply admired. Despite the claims of disgruntled opposition fans, money does not buy titles. Mourinho has done what very few people can do - instill an incredible fighting mentality in his players. Mourinho gets more out of his players than it’s humanly possible - you can’t expect Lampard to go on season upon season like this for just any other manager.
But the last two seasons at Chelsea were ‘relatively’ comfortable, and Jose’s achievements are slightly dented by people calling them bought titles. The lack of a Champions League medal hurts as well, never mind that cup games have an element of luck in them and that luck does not even out over the course of a season.
And this season is the first in three that Chelsea have been truly challenged. Not only challenged, they have been pushed to second place, and if anyone has made it possible for Chelsea to cope with that pressure, it is Mourinho.
How does he do it? By taking all the pressure off his players. He does it by being in the media 24/7 - even when he’s mad at them he can’t stay mad for long. He baits other managers, he complains about tactics, he invents new rules, he berates referees. The list goes on, and as much as you are tempted to think that Jose Mourinho is a spiteful, cheap soul who likes to talk trash and all the other wonderful titles people give him, he takes one for the team every time.
In the buildup to the Newcastle game, knowing that it would be difficult for Chelsea, Mourinho baited United incessantly. After the game, he ranted again about new rules. The controversy deflected much of the attention away from Newcastle’s hard-fought performance with Chelsea fans left thinking that they weren’t good enough (they were, but so were Newcastle).
And in the buildup to tonight’s game, Mourinho has raised the controversy to a fever pitch, causing Rafa Benitez to face countless questions from the media about Mourinho’s comments. Rafa’s in a losing battle - if he stays quiet the media keeps baying, and if he retaliates they will scream even more. Rafa has said that he doesn’t understand it, and that’s strange - after so many years of mind games, Rafa should know that Mourinho does it for his team.
Liverpool have the Anfield crowd as their 12th man. Chelsea need not worry - they have Jose Mourinho, and as long as he’s there, this Chelsea team will give 200% for every game.
This season, Chelsea are not the favourites for 2 of the 3 remaining trophies that they are contesting. It will be a true testament to Mourinho’s status in the game if Chelsea were to win them.
And greatness for Mourinho? Maybe not yet, but his willingness to take the flak so that his team is always protected is astonishing. He is a master baiter, and his efforts have taken all the pressure off his players for tonight, and the ‘underdog’ tag he’s put on them will spur them on to forget their fatigue and push on.
Mourinho, the master baiter, has once again sacrificed himself for Chelsea’s cause. In some ways, to do that for so long, that is greatness.
Help promote this article by digging it.
- Master Baiter Mourinho prepares for war with Manchester United
- Jose Mourinho: I will ‘KILL’ Chelsea
- All of Jose Mourinho’s quotes
- Jose Mourinho page (updated)
- Football Headlines: 25 April 2007
Discussion - 18 Responses
Add Your Comment
Comments are moderated (our comments policy).
This is kind of like arguing that as long as you stay within the rules of the game, the etiquette which you demonstrate on the field doesn’t matter. It’s true, but it’s also disgusting, and that’s why I personally don’t believe people will recognise him as one of the best managers til he changes his attitude. You argue that it’s all calculated, but from his demonstrations on touch lines and what not, I actualy believe it’s about 50/50 with his arrogant, spiteful personality. He doesn’t plan all of the things he says, he’s not that controlled. He’s a man that wants people to recognise his achievements, but can’t do anything with grace (win/lose/draw) so will never get the respect that he (may) deserve.
I just hope he grows up.
Please do not take the article as me condoning Mourinho’s actions. I’ve always been against his methods and if you’ve read this site for a while you’ll know that I criticise anyone - player or manager - who acts or comments in an unprofessional manner.
And yes, it is tied to his personality as well.
But man, for a manager to put himself in the firing line day in and day out, selflessly doing it to protect his team from the media, that’s gotta be something, right?
Yea, I know, it didn’t sound right when I wrote it
And that is why I come back to your site so often
…. You may be a complete ManU fan, but your mind is open to football 
Jose is why I support Chelsea, he IS the special one if you’re blue and not so if you’re not. But he don’t give a flying f**k if you’re not blue. All that matters to him is blue and he’ll fight for it from the manager’s seat during the matches, in interviews after the matches, in the board room during transfer season, and in referees council when invited.
Didn’t hear from you yesterday, I thought you would have loved to see Milan get two away goals
Jose is Jose. A great manager and tactician.
Ahmed - Hehe no man
in CL I’d only be against ManU when they’re playing Chelsea, otherwise no. Yes in EPL I always want them dropping points for obvious reasons 
!! But do you think I’d rather have a final against Milan than ManU (assuming Chelsea does beat pool)?
I’m quite indifferent actually. All I want is a final first…. and and and the trophy haha….. whether Shevchenko has to dodge Nesta tackles or whether Joe Cole has to beat three defenders within a few square metres, just get the CL trophy please!!!!
I like Mourhino a lot - but he does appear to be ridiculous sometimes - both before and after games - but don’t think he will ever change. Will take him as he is - a real unique character and a great manager.
Still have dreams of him managing Newcastle United to greatness one day.
Since the dream keeps recurring - does that mean it will come true - or that I will shortly be committed?
I’d go with committed
It’s almost as if he’s just fuckin’ with the media.
Here’s a longer version of that clip.
I think you might be right, Ahmed, but his attitude made a lot more sense when he was at Porto. When he was there I think protecting the players was a decent idea. At Chelsea, the players don’t need protecting, surely? Anyway, he was a more sympathetic figure when he was in charge of an underdog club (at least in Champions League terms).
Beachryan demonstrates evrything that’s wrpng with football supporters. Playing within the rules isn’t good enough. It’s the etquette that’s more important. What a knob. Playing within the rules is what the rules are for. Etiquette is for keeping the losers happy.
[…] He has, single handedly, managed to piss off more people than we can possibly remember. He is a master baiter - nay, the king of master […]
i agree with u ahmad.eventhough people call him arrogant,but keep the pressure off his player so they can play without it,and win titles is a great attitude. he wants 2 make sure he will be remembered.people just dont remember nice manager bt with zero trophy.
[…] read more | digg story […]
i will like to see the most successful manager to take up the manager post at real madrid so that he put back the happlyness i was haveing i n chelsea.i am a sierra leone how have that nickname by calling j.mourinho.please sir you being the one how make me love foot ball and i will like he to have a job and it will be at real