Pardon Goalden’s Interruption: is Mourinho the real deal?
A recent discussion between the founders of Goalden (Phil & Ivan) has created the stage for what resembles the popular sport tv show Pardon the Interruption (PTI). For those of you unfamiliar with the show, it is hosted by Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon and they address the top stories of the day related to sports. Phil & Ivan have created a similar idea of the sport tv show called Pardon Goalden’s Interruption (PGI). Discussing, and even arguing, we will blog about topics that arise in the world of soccer.
In a very entertaining discussion, Phil & Ivan have tackled the relevance of Real Madrid as the top club in the world and Jose Mourinho as potentially the top manager.
What’s on your mind boys?
Ivan:
“I was reading a little bit about the signing of Mourinho with Real Madrid this morning. When he assumes his throne, he has already talked about bringing in players like Ashley Cole, Maicon (from Inter Milan) to solidify a defense of his liking. He also wants either Drobga or Milito for a forward. If he can pull that off, it will cost a lot, but what a team that has the potential to be. Or at least that’s what we’re left to think. Real Madrid has always done this in the past: collected the best players in the world and thrown them on the field with the expectation that things will simply click…not always the situation.”
Phil:
“True although people were saying “holy what a team” last year when they brought in Benzima, Ronaldo and Kaka.
Madrid is a mess. A new manager every 6-12 months, new presidents every other year and 10 + new signings each season. What’s saving them is their history from the 50s and 60s and all their corporate accounts, let alone the interest they made on David Beckham.
Zidane said it best last week when Ribery signed a new deal with Bayern Munich. “You don’t have to play for Madrid to reach the top.” I couldn’t agree more.”
Ivan:
“You’re right, you don’t have to play for Madrid to reach the top. However, majority of the best players ever have put on a Real Madrid jersey. Zidane can say what he wants, but he put one on too. Real Madrid is the New York Yankee’s of soccer; you don’t have to play for the Yankee’s to be the best, but they’re the biggest clubs in every stretch of the mind and players are attracted to that team. If looking at it from that perspective, to be the best you have to play for the best.
Let’s take Christano Ronaldo as an example. The reason Ronaldo left Man.U was because he wanted to go to the biggest club in Europe: Real Madrid. Manchester United is one of the best clubs currently and of all time. However, Real Madrid is arguably THE best club of all time. Why drive a BMW when you can drive a Ferrari?
As for Ribery, if Real Madrid really wanted Ribery they would have got him. Real Madrid is a name, they have money…and as we all know, money talks.
That being said, I couldn’t agree more, Real Madrid is a circus. They are a team that is after immediate results and have no care for anything else. Funny enough, that’s the same thing Mourinho is after. A match made in heaven perhaps? Mourinho has even openly stated that he does not want to stay in Madrid long. He wants to go back to Engalnd and prove his worth because when he left Chelsea he didn’t exactly leave on a high so the media and fans alike have criticized him for it. But how dumb is that? ‘I’m coming, but for only a year’…”
Phil:
“I can’t stand Mourinho. He’s all about me, me, me and doesn’t give a flip about any club or anybody else. He also shoves that attitude in your face. Yes he’s done well and has that command but he’s demanding huge projects before he joins a club and then goes in to connect the dots. I think he did it best when he coached the Portuguese team Porto, building a team and then taking them to the top. Since then he only goes when all the pieces are in place for him to succeed. Similar basketball and to Phil Jackson (Jackson is still one of the best). I have more respect for Wenger of Arsenal and Ferguson of Man.U who are about building a club and it runs through their blood. Murinho brings a different style to the coaching scene with these little stints all over the place but I don’t care for it. As a player it would be unsettling not having stability at the top. He’s also talking about returning to England because he got sacked by Chelsea and it’s still hurting his ego.
Take London Croatia. I played when we were in first division and then another 5 or 6 seasons in premier. We had seasons where we lost 7 games in a row, got blown out 5 nil and coaches leave mid way. It was pretty bad at times but each season we improved and it made winning the premier title that much more sweeter. It also made playing against certain teams more meaningful because there was a history there.
Take the Chicago Bulls. When they lost and lost and lost year after year to the Detroit Pistons, Jordan didn’t demand a trade to New York or say “I need to explore my options” like the yoyos of the NBA today. He worked harder, bulked up, got Pippen, better role players, trusted his teammates, picked up Phil Jackson and then they finally turned the corner in ’91 and never looked back. Had he not retired in ’98 I bet they would have won a 7th or 8th title. After all, they never lost in the final.”
Ivan:
“Perspective is reality. The way you see things is what makes the world real. For Mourinho, winning – however its done – is all the matters and is what he perceives as right. Take his most recent stint with Inter Milan. His soccer was labeled as boring and barbaric. He created a system that consisted of a defensive wall almost impossible to penetrate. What did this do for the quality of soccer of Inter Milan? It killed it. Inter Milan played some of the ugliest, grueling and disgusting soccer ever seen. But it can be justified because they not only won the Italian Serie A league title, but the Champions League title too. So is this coaching approach stupid because it dilutes the quality of soccer, or smart because they win titles? Is it right or wrong?
There’s something to be said about a coach who is able to step into a squad full of superstars and make them come together to win championships. Mourinho leveled with the top players in the world and made them buy into a system that would work in Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan. Some coaches haven’t been able to the same – just ask Maradonna who is coaching the Argentinian national team as they barely squeaked into the world cup. A less than par performance with some of the greatest players on the planet (i.e. Messi, Tevez, Milito…) how come? Or ask the most recent Real Madrid coach Pelligrini who was sacked because he couldn’t win when it mattered. He had the likes of Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema, Raul, Ramos…and couldn’t pull them together. In his defense he only had one year at the helm, but still, I couldn’t help but feel that he was constantly in the shadow of his team and the club. It’s like he assumed the role of that voice in the back of your head you can’t help but ignore. Coaches like Sir Alex Ferguson, Mourinho and Pep Guardiola of Barcelona always seem to have the respect of their players and control over operations. It is these types of coaches that know how to pull a team together and know how to win – whether its ugly or nice.”
Phil:
I guess it comes down to your personal preference in coaching styles and how that translates into the way your team plays. In the end you have to respect Mourinho as he’s become synonymous with winning. However, don’t expect much loyalty from him. Whether Real Madrid wins next season or not, he’ll be on to a new club very soon after that and can at least add being coach of Madrid to his CV. Remember, it’s all about him.
In terms of Real Madrid winning or not, that is a head scratcher. They fire every manager that doesn’t win something in a season. However, they also sacked Vincent Del Bosque (the beginning of their managerial circus) despite him bringing success to the club. They ALSO sacked Fabio Capello despite him winning the league in one season. If Madrid fails, they fire their manager. If they win, they also fire their manager. What exactly are their goals? Winning with a certain style? Being too picky can have its downside and work against you. This is something Real Madrid is still figuring out. Fortunately though, they have the financial backing to mess around with this year after year.
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