This wasn’t a very difficult decision. In Fact, I had left my choice for a nomination till today, as I knew without a doubt that the right man would arise during the Spanish Cup El Clasico on Wednesday night. Last season had a revealed a few potential candidates during the run of matchups between the Spanish giants. Few will forget the atrocious display of simulation by Daniel Alves and Sergio Busquets during the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.
After a lengthy break, a new season has begun. Considering Real Madrid had four players sent off in five match-ups last season, one could imagine that José would have attempted enforcing some sort of discipline amongst his squad as they embark on a refreshed race with the Catalans for Silverware. One may even believe that he might possibly attempt some level of self-control. If so, you were horribly mistaken.
Former Real Madrid club president Ramon Calderon said Jose Mourinho‘s comments and behavior damaged Real Madrid during the two legs of the semi-finals.
Real Madrid were dumped out of the Champions League by their bitter rivals Barcelona last night after an aggregate score of 3 – 1, but both games were overshadowed by the behaviour of fans, players and club officials.
Boss Mourinho was sent off in the first leg for disputing a red card and is also in trouble for later comments.
“To talk like that has been harmful for Real Madrid,” Calderon told BBC Sport.
A bad-tempered first-leg match erupted at half-time when there was a fracas on the touchline as the players were leaving the field, which resulted in Real reserve-keeper Pinto being shown a red card.
Bitter Spanish rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid clashed in Jose Mourinho’s first Clasico last night at Camp Nou, but it was Barca that came out on top in spectacular fasion as they drubbed Real 5 – 0.
Spanish World Cup winners Xavi and Pedro Rodriguez put Barcelona into a two-goal lead after just 17 minutes and David Villa marked his first Clasico with a brace inside two minutes (54 min, 56) before Jeffren added a late fifth as Mourinho stomached an unforgettable first defeat in charge of Real.
“It was an important win by a big margin and it puts us top two points above Real in the table which is what we wanted,” said Villa. “However, it is only November and there are lots of games left and we have to keep on winning.”
For Barcelona it was a fifth successive Clasico win over their arch rivals as coach Pep Guardiola maintained his 100 percent record in the fixture and exacted revenge over Mourinho, whose Inter Milan side defeated Barcelona in last season’s Champions League semifinals.
Portugal are hoping to convince Real Madrid to release Jose Mourinho to take charge of their national team for the next two Euro 2012 qualifiers.
Portugal have dismissed Carlos Queiroz, who led the team to the World Cup, after he received a six-month ban for his aggressive attitude towards anti-doping officials.
Having drawn 4-4 with Cyprus in their opening qualifier and then lost 1-0 to Norway, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) is now hoping that Mourinho will take charge of the qualifiers against Denmark and Iceland in October to get their campaign back on track.
Record says FPF president Gilberto Madail has flown to Madrid, along with former president Joao Rodrigues, to speak to Mourinho’s agent, Jorge Mendes, about the prospect of an agreement.
According to Jose Mourinho England will never win a major tournament whilst Fabio Capello is charge of the national side.
Italian manager Capello has been under fire since England’s wretched campaign at this year’s World Cup in South Africa, where they exited the tournament at the last 16 stage.
“The problem is the manager,” Mourinho told Wednesday’s Daily Mirror.
“Capello will not work for England,” added Mourinho, who won two English Premier League titles while manager of Chelsea and last season guided Italian giants Inter Milan to a domestic and Champions League treble.
Portuguese boss Mourinho is now in charge of Real Madrid, where Capello was once the manager.
And according to Mourinho, Capello’s deficiencies are well remembered in the Spanish capital.
“He has a one-track relationship with players,” Mourinho said.
Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho described his team’s qualification for the Champions League final as the greatest moment of his life.
Inter beat Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate in their semi-final despite losing the second leg 1-0 and playing an hour of the game at the Nou Camp with 10 men.
Mourinho’s Inter, who won the first game 3-1 last week, will face Bayern Munich in the final on May 22 in Madrid.
“It’s the greatest moment of my career,” said Mourinho. “For the players, me, the fans, it’s the greatest.”
Inter Milan reached the Champions League final last night by beating Barcelona 3 – 2 on aggregate after having to play with only 10 men for more than an hour.
After losing last week’s semi-final first leg in Milan 3-1, Barca’s hopes of meeting Bayern Munich in Madrid on May 22 were lifted when Inter defender Thiago Motta clashed with Sergio Busquets in the 28th minute and was sent off.
The home fans filled the vast Nou Camp arena with noise and Barca dominated possession but struggled to create clear chances.