Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid: The real problem

Real Madrid’s shocking season showed no signs of improving against Osasuna on Saturday. But after 5 months of utter turmoil, the Galacticos’ problem is becoming clearer.

It is not entrenched in Cristiano Ronaldo, La Decima, or Mourinho’s selection. Rather, it is hidden in one of the most subtle areas of top-level managers’ minds – something that is inherent in them and which many fail to notice or even realise. It shapes their teams and who they are, and its resolve becomes even fierce in times of adversity. That “something”, is their personality.

Jose Mourinho is rightly the “Special One.” He’s been there, and done that. His teams boast an identity of intense focus, mentality and gameplay, attacks with pace down the wings, winning balls with sheer strength and pace in midfield and absolute defensive parsimony. But the caveat, possibly, is that Mourinho lacks the self-confidence to maintain that kind of identity and motivation in his teams. Real Madrid of this season is a stand-out example.

What is peculiar about Real Madrid’s season is that their profligacies are not due to Mourinho’s shortcomings as a tactician. Instead, they have arisen from the erroneous feeling of self-doubt in the manager in Mourinho. I believe that these feelings have manifested themselves in the Real side, and this is what is causing all the problems.

Mourinho has always been a fiercely competitive and reactive manager. The inventor of the ‘parking the bus’ strategy, the Special One has always crafted well-drilled teams. He got two months out of a wilting Inter Milan side en route the treble in 2009-10. He is most remembered at Chelsea, where he sparked off an incredible series of trophies and established what was the most powerful core of players in modern football in John Terry, Frank Lampard, Petr Cech and Didier Drogba. When winning was the focus, Mourinho was an ace. But ever so often, his own behaviour has let his teams down.

When he took charge of Real Madrid, his self-doubts intensified. His ego could not handle the fact that he wasn’t the best manager in the league. He set his Real team out to attack and ended up getting defeated 5-0 in his first Clasico. He had been presented with a challenge he had never faced before, and he was determined to overcome it. So, he tried various tactics to beat Barcelona. Knowing that their original gameplan wasn’t going to work, Real set out to destroy. Yet, a Catalan conquest did not seem viable. The season after that, Jose Mourinho got his team’s head right; the focus was on winning rather than beating Barcelona. In the end, Real had accomplished his goal of defeating their rivals-not by tweaked tactics or mind games, but by a pure ‘Mourinho’ way of playing football.

Mourinho became vicious for his frustrations got the better of him (poking two fingers in the eye of Tito Vilanova). This has percolated down to the players. Never before at Manchester United did you see Ronaldo being suspended for picking up too many yellow cards. Mesut Ozil and Kaka were footballers who focused on the game and shied away from altercations. Ozil was sent off in August 2011 for fighting with Cesc Fabregas. Kaka was red carded for blocking a free kick being taken quickly on Saturday. Pepe has facebook memes taunting him of being violent. Sergio Ramos’ indiscipline has augmented exponentially. These are all signs that the sportsman’s spirit in the players is diminishing and being taken over by a beast thirsty for more blood (and more Barca). I reiterate , when winning was the focus, Mourinho was an ace. But his own demeanour has let Real down.

The power struggle he triggers so often leaves its scars forever on the clubs he manages. Chelsea and Inter both have struggled to replace Mourinho and the core of players that he had established. Real will follow suit once he eventually leaves.

So, where will Mourinho get longevity? I think the deep-rooted problems his clubs face are because he was their greatest manager in the recent times (Porto, Chelsea, Inter, Real). He can only truly keep focus if, and only if, he replaces someone much greater, someone who has truly left a legacy and impression, left a shadow, getting out of which is a very gruelling task, that will keep him and his teams motivated for years to come.

Sir Alex Ferguson will be watching.

The question is, will he take that challenge?