Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernández, who now plies his trade for Qatari football club Al Sadd SC has voiced his opinion regarding Jose Mourinho. Xavi said that while he respects the 52 year old coach, Mourinho’s ‘win at all costs’ approach is not something that he favours.
In an interview given to Portuguese outlet Record, Xavi said,
"He always wanted to win at any price and that shows in the way he goes about things. I respect that philosophy but winning at any cost means you can't stay true to a playing style.
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“For me, the means don't always justify the ends. I have a lot of respect for him, he has achieved great things, but I see football in a different way to Mourinho.”
Xavi has unknowingly touched upon an issue which has shaped Mourinho’s ideas and also his career. In an article written for The Guardian just after Mourinho’s sacking, Jonathan Wilson stated that Mourinho was the out-cast from Barcelona. He said that the devil, the out-cast has shaped his life against the ideas of Barcelona. Mourinho’s philosophy of anti-possession has been his career defining theory.
Mourinho’s success will make him immune to Xavi’s criticism
While Xavi insists the the ex-Chelsea boss is not always true to his philosophy, it is offset by the reality that Mourinho happens to be one of the most successful coaches in the history of the game.
Mourinho has had his stints with clubs in England, Spain, Italy and Portugal. He has won major accolades with all of these clubs which include, FC Porto, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea. He was perhaps most successful with Chelsea having managed the club twice in his career. With Chelsea he still holds a record. In his first season with Chelsea they were the league toppers with a record 95 points which no other club in the league has been able to match till date.
Mourinho led Porto to consecutive UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League titles. He led Inter Milan to Champions League glory. Mourinho’s time at the Bernebeu was a controversial one with a division between the fans - The Mourinhistas and the Madridistas. He left the club in 2013 to return to Chelsea.
He led Chelsea to the league title in 2014. Very recently in the 2015-16 campaign Chelsea had a dismal run under Mourinho, their worst in years. This resulted in the sacking of Mourinho. He is currently out of a job but has insisted that he will not be taking a hiatus. His name has been linked to some big clubs. Xavi’s criticism, therefore comes at a time when Mourinho is going through the worst phase of his life.
