Mourinho’s antics inspire a firestorm of criticism

Marca reported Saturday that Real Madrid head coach José Mourinho confided to his inner circle his regret about his actions in Barcelona during Madrid’s SuperCopa defeat at the hands of Pep Guardiola’s squad. But this apparent about-face has not been enough to shield the Portuguese manager from a firestorm of criticism from pundits, ex-footballers and even from those formerly well-placed in the Madrid camp. Read on for a roundup of international reaction and commentary on the Special One’s latest tantrum.Writing in the Guardian, Paul Hayward poetically echoed the sentiments of many Barcelona fans who watched the match live: “Barcelona’s vision has been a problem for José Mourinho ever since he took the Real Madrid job, so gouging the eye of a Barça coach in the latest melee between the two clubs was a Shakespearian act of desperation by a manager now working outside the laws and spirit of the game. Mourinho’s loss of self-control…was proof of an emotional inability to accept a subservient role for another year. For all the millions of words written about his machiavellian cunning, this latest caper exposes a measure of stupidity, as well as nastiness, because he seemed to forget that every sneaky act is now recorded and pinged around the world on digital pathways. In a rational state he could not have thought that gouging the eye of a fellow professional who was in no position to see the attacker approach would enhance his already frayed reputation.”

Pete Jensen, writing in the Independent, went one step further: “Whenever Jose Mourinho appears in the cartoon on the back page of Barcelona-based daily football paper Sport, the artist depicts him looking out from the corner of the drawing wearing a straitjacket. It is an image that his critics say he is starting to live up to.”

Rory Smith advanced an interesting theory about Mourinho in his column for The Telegraph. Smith suggests that Mourinho knew exactly what he was doing during the touchline melee, and that the firestorm that has followed the match is part of a campaign to feed his own ego, and to deflect attention away from the fact that Real Madrid have lost yet another trophy to their arch-rivals: “Every single word is music to his ears. Every complaint, every accusation feeds his ego, swells his pride. Every allegation simply augments his achievement. Last night was a good night for Jose Mourinho. Despite defeat, despite disgrace, it was a fine evening, because this morning, we are all talking about him.”

The outcry over Mourinho’s actions, deliberate or merely cowardly, bled over to the squad he manages. Writing in the New York Times, Andrew Das used the SuperCopa to explain “why some people don’t like Real Madrid.” Das went on to speculate: “Is it embarrassment, or jealousy, or something else that drives Mourinho and his players to lash out? Real Madrid has played seven games against Barcelona since last November. It has won only one of those games, but has managed to have a player sent off in five. That, apparently, is an even trade for Mourinho.”

Outspoken opinions were not merely the domain of football journalists; former players and managers heaped on as well. Former Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes told Radio Cope that he was embarrassed for his former team: “As a Madrid fan, I’m ashamed Casillas said Cesc was acting, and disgusted they didn’t stay for the ceremony.” And Jorge Valdano, Madrid Sporting Director until last season told Sport“What happened at the Clasico doesn’t do honor to Real Madrid and Mourinho. I’m sure no one is proud of what happened.” Even Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal, a staunch Madrid supporter, warned thatthere are things more important than winning or losing.” that “

It looks increasingly likely that Mourinho will escape formal punishment for his post-game actions. One can only hope that the Madrid manager, and his team, will find the punishment they so richly deserve on the field with another defeat when these two teams meet in La Liga later this year.