Jose Mourinho – he’s a journalists dream isn’t he? Just today he has come out and said, “My team are special, just like me.” They may well be. Sitting pretty at the top of Serie A, Mourinho’s side have a 9 point cushion over their nearest rivals, Juventus. Now they face their toughest test of the season; Manchester United in the first round knock-out of the Champion’s League.
So Mourinho; still the special one? Whatever people think, the media adore him. He provides them with unenviable amounts of material. After his ever-so-public split from Chelski, we have seen him tout himself as the next England manager; whilst telling us at the same time his next job will be in club football. That he will only manage Portugal at national level (on the obvious assumption they would want you Jose…); that we will never return to Chelsea; whilst months later declaring he sees himself back at Chelsea as manager in the future….the man is full of many contradictions. Is it intentional? Absolutely. Jose wants to be the man everyone talks about; the man who brings controversy and contempt; intelligence and knowledge. The man loves publicity.
Arrogant is how most would describe him, and he of course has good reason to think so highly of himself. Having guided Porto to a Champions league final and won, Mourinho then went to Chelsea where he won 2 consecutive league titles, the first seen at Stamford Bridge in 50 years. He installed a confidence and winning mentality at Chelsea never seen before…(with a little help from Abramorich and his russian rubles.) After Chelsea, the Mourinho show rolled up in Milan, & parked at the San Siro. For Inter that is. How are they doing in his first season? Top of the league and looking comfortable. Mourinho can also boast an incredibly ridiculous unbeaten home record stretching 110 games. Arrogant he may be…but he has the results to back it up.
So will United put a dampener on the “Jose special” show? Maybe. Inter, for once, are the underdogs. However Mourinho will not be fazed; he has only lost once in twelve meeting to Sir Alex and United. Inter will not fear United, and will push them all the way.
Mourinho claimed this week that winning Serie ‘A’ with Inter was more important than the Champion’s League. I imagine this was said with the usual glint of mischief in his eyes. Make no mistake, he will want to win, and would like nothing more than dumping the current European holders out of the competition. Remember when his Porto side were at Old Trafford? Mourinho’s infamous run down the touchline towards the fans, the way he celebrated? We may well see that again…Jose; still the special one? Quite possibly.
