Real Madrid march on but is it the end for Mourinho?
With Barcelona slipping up against Villarreal on Saturday, Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of La Liga to seven points by beating Real Zaragoza. Yet amid renewed reports that Jose Mourinho is set to leave the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season, Madrid’s dominance of La Liga continues to be undermined by their outspoken and enigmatic Coach and reports of dressing room strife.
Saturday’s win was Madrid’s 17th in 20 Liga matches and they remain on course for a first Primera title since 2008. However, there has been increasing speculation about Mourinho’s future at the Bernabeu and attention has shifted from the players’ achievements on the pitch to public rows, frosty Press conferences and rumours of internal unrest off it.
The Coach himself has variously been portrayed as both architect and victim of controversy and now a source close to Mourinho has told the Sunday Times that the 49-year-old has become exasperated by the situation at the Bernabeu, has ‘grown disillusioned with life in Madrid’ and wants to return to England and to the Premier League.
“Jose is sick and tired of this situation at Madrid,” said the source. “It doesn’t matter if he wins this season or not. It’s not about the money. He’s decided to come back to England and he will go in the summer.”
Mourinho claimed last week that some of his players believed it was ‘impossible to win’ at Camp Nou as Madrid lost their Copa del Rey quarter-final against Barcelona. The Portuguese appeared to be focused only on beating Pep Guardiola’s side to the detriment of almost everything else, only to be ultimately frustrated at Madrid’s failure in three attempts to beat Barcelona this season.
Widely criticised for his team selection and tactics in both legs of the quarter-final, Mourinho refused to accept he had made the wrong decision in starting Gonzalo Higuain ahead of Karim Benzema in the second leg, despite the positive impression the French striker made as a substitute, as Madrid stormed back to level a 2-0 deficit on the night.
Mourinho employed a more attacking line-up than he had in the first leg but, in the light of eventual defeat, criticised referee Teixeira Vitienes – who disallowed a Sergio Ramos goal at the Camp Nou and later sent the defender off following a second yellow card – and was even reported to have confronted the official in the stadium car park after his team’s 4-3 aggregate loss.
“We came here looking to win. We knew we were behind but we were motivated and wanted to win. We knew it would be difficult, but that is what we came here to do,” Mourinho told the Press. “However I have heard in the dressing room it is impossible to win here. I have played here with Chelsea, Inter and Madrid various times and this is nothing new.”
Mourinho had defended his team’s performance after they had left the pitch to jeers from frustrated fans in the first leg. His critics had been handed further ammunition during that match when Pepe, playing out of position in midfield, stamped on Lionel Messi’s hand. The Portuguese player, who later apologised, had been booked early on and escaped further sanction, but the publicity around the incident reflected badly on Mourinho as a Coach and was seen by many as further tarnishing the club’s name and reputation.
Following Press reports in Marca of a dressing room bust-up between Mourinho and some of Madrid’s Spanish internationals, the Coach was given a ringing endorsement by many of the club’s hardcore fans during their 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao, but while some supporters chanted his name towards the end of the game at the Bernabeu, they were drowned out by a significant section whistling at the Portuguese for the first time.
After that match, Mourinho refused to answer questions about any alleged rift, interrupting journalists to insist he did not read the newspapers. Asked about whistles from fans, the Madrid boss said it was the first time it had happened in his career but it ‘was not a problem’ and had happened to other Madrid greats.
“Zinedine Zidane responded with his football, Ronaldo the same, and Cristiano (Ronaldo) continues to do so,” Mourinho explained. “I am a professional and try to defend Real Madrid with dignity and to the best of my abilities. I did not ask to coach Madrid, it was they who asked me. I’m relaxed about it and do my work as best I can.”
According to Marca, the Coach had exchanged heated words with the players following the first leg defeat to Barcelona, with Mourinho and Sergio Ramos allegedly the central protagonists. Ramos was said to have been berated by Mourinho, who then hit out at the supposed Spanish clique in the squad. Madrid President Florentino Perez has since launched an investigation into how the conversation was leaked.
The Portuguese had already been criticised for some of his tactical rotations ahead of the first leg match, and was far from happy when challenged by the Press. Expressing his frustration at what he termed a lack of respect for his past achievements, Mourinho insisted he had won enough titles to stop having his decisions questioned.
“How many titles do I have to win in order to avoid being questioned for what I do? Tell me what I have to do to satisfy you,” Mourinho implored reporters. “If I field Karim Benzema as my striker, you all ask about Gonzalo Higuain, but if he plays, you want to know why Benzema is out. If I play Pepe in midfield, you all stress he’s better at the back, but if he plays in defence, you suggest I use him in midfield.”
Former Real Madrid President, Ramon Calderon has also weighed into the debate about Mourinho, criticising the Coach and his tactics and claiming that several Spanish players were unhappy with the situation at the Bernabeu. Calderon alleged that former Borussia Dortmund star Nuri Sahin had a difficult relationship with the Portuguese Coach and that communication between Mourinho and Brazilian star Kaka had broken down completely.
Mourinho is no stranger to controversy and has frequently been outspoken in his dealings with the Press and media, as well as with football authorities, club directors, officials, coaches and players. With a career history littered with incendiary comments and allegedly difficult working relationships, the Portuguese has regularly ruffled feathers since his arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu in May 2010 on a four-year deal worth €10m a year.
“I have high self-esteem and confidence,” Mourinho said at his inaugural Press conference, responding to questions about his character. “I am Jose Mourinho and the Mourinho that arrives here is the Mourinho with all the defects and qualities. I do not provoke people, but I am a worker. I work a lot, and as I work a lot, and those around me work a lot, we want respect. If we have respect, perfect. If we don’t have respect I will defend my group.”
During the final of the Super Copa at the beginning of the current season, Mourinho was caught on camera jabbing his finger in the eye of Barcelona’s assistant Coach Tito Vilanova during a brawl at the end of the game. Mourinho escaped punishment because the incident was omitted from the referee’s match report, but aggravated the offence by referring to Vilanova as ‘Pito,’ Spanish slang for part of the male anatomy.
Mourinho has always divided opinion. His supporters say his bullying and bravado shifts the pressure off his players and many who have played under him continue to offer praise for his methods long after they have parted. His present detractors say that not only is he damaging Real Madrid’s image, but his regular outbursts have tainted his overall standing within football. Former Ajax and Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff said in 2010 that he would not want the Portuguese in charge of his club.
“I have great respect for Mourinho as a Coach, but even with everything he has achieved, he woul
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