Jose Mourinho - The big, bad wolf

Mourinho

Mourinho’s impromptu routines in the dressing room, carefully designed to hit the fragile egos of the modern day footballer right where it counts, were timed to perfection; such that they gave his team the impression that here was a man who, by virtue of his everyday words and actions, was destined to lead them to the Promised Land. A world where the trophies would overflow in champagne and the world would sing praises of an army that was only too willing to fight for its general.

A striker of Samuel Eto’o pedigree excelled on the right flank with no complaints, Argentine Diego Milito was prolific in front of goal, and a majestic Wesley Sneijder took the continent by storm; as a resurgent Inter fought, punched and kicked its way to the Champions League title in 2010.

In fact, Mourinho’s recent disclosure that he would trade his current reign at Chelsea for the hot seat at Inter in a matter of 3 years suggests a certain fondness for the Nerazzurri, the one truly big stage where his stage act was timed to perfection.

Applauding in the front row was Inter Chairman Massimo Moratti, who, on the basis of the current drama unfolding before his eyes on the much less esteemed stage that is Inter Milan today, seems to be pining for a return to the days where Mourinho the orchestrator held a spellbound audience at will; not just with his unmatched results, but also the inevitable controversies that follow the Portuguese wherever he goes.

Mourinho has a genuine love and feel for the big stage; a quality that has enabled him to take the harsh spotlight off his players, and into his own waiting arms, with all the panache of a rabid bulldog. Offensive and derogatory in every sense of the word, the manager does all the dirty work without a hint of hesitation betraying his features; that smug look of self-satisfaction playing out the game that had his less gifted peers reeling before a ball had even been kicked. Or indeed, many times after the dust had settled on all the action out on the pitch.

But for all his undoubted qualities, he has a glaring flaw – a deep, abiding compulsion to be in total, irrevocable control. While it was justified when it cost him his job at Chelsea all those years ago, it came to haunt him in his time at Madrid. It was to be a magical union – a manager like no other taking charge of a club like no other. But Mourinho’s obsession with the limelight led, prominently, to a feud with Cristiano Ronaldo (kept in the shadows because of super-agent Jorge Mendes, who caters to both clients) and the inexplicable benching of club icon Iker Casillas (who did nothing to deserve such treatment).

It has seen two-time Chelsea Player of the Year (in his first two seasons at the club!) Juan Mata relegated to a peripheral role in the current set-up; but a reflection of Mourinho’s deep-seated need to show everyone just who the boss really is. He has nothing against Mata; in fact Mourinho has shown a certain fondness for the midfield maestro in the past – Deco, Lampard, and Sneijder have all played their parts exquisitely in Mourinho’s previous plays, albeit in their own distinctive ways. And until The Special One is well and truly convinced that, in his second homecoming, the stage is all but his to own, Chelsea fans the world over will just have to remain in their seats, looking up at a stage that now shows them everything they have ever wanted, and yet promised so much more.