Before I write anything else, congratulation to the inter milan team for winning the uefa champions league........there was never any doubt.......bayern really did it wrong........but superb finishing from milito and the defensive formation of Mourinho was really great.
Again, why did people around the world call a man named Jose Mourinho the greatest manager? is it because he claim himself to be the special one? or because the team he manages always get the win? or because he is a lucky man being the right place at the right time?
What did really Jose Mourinho brought to this beautiful footballing game?
For me, it is simple as a word called
Discipline,
Reality, and
Motivation doing it right
Jose Mourinho's tactics are based on defensive, not that much on offensive, from his days in Chelsea....it is not Roman Abramovich's money did change Chelsea.......it is the discipline induced by Mourinho to his team. As an example, look at Real Madrid or Manchester City.......maybe Real did a better job.....but still not enough.
Whats the connection between being discipline and playing football? Discipline is very important, all professional player have a high level of discipline, except that of modern young stars, but they are still disciplined. The player who are not disciplined can't go much further in the game, see Beckham or Ronaldo, or Maldini or even Graham Alexander......these players are very discipline in their game, in training even not so in the public for some players, but the important thing is to establish discipline in the locker room, in the training ground and in the game. And Mourinho has brought this discipline to his players. Playing a defensive formation, only disciplined player can stick to their positions and don't go out of position, only disciplined player can stay down and listen to their manager and not going for glory themselves. As discipline is very important, and it showed in this year's UEFA Champions League Final. When Bayern Munich have the ball in midfield, Inter Milan's midfield don't go and tackle the player with the ball, Cambiasso did not go and flying all over the field, but, all midfield player's including Eto'o and Pandev, run straight to their defensive formation in front of the back four, letting Bayern pass the ball as they wish, but have no penetration in the final third, when they lose possession, Inter straight go for a counter attack. Even without having lightning fast player as Ronaldo or Walcott or Lennon, they still can conjure a successful counter attack using only two players, the first goal was Milito and Sneijder, the second goal was Milito and Eto'o. Discipline is a key factor in football, and Mourinho has brought them to the teams he managed.
Secondly is Reality, Mourinho has brought back reality into the game. Sorry for the Liverpool fans who are still hoping for miracles and magic, Reality has brought Mourinho to become one of the most successful manager this era. In reality, what do I meant? Basically the reality of competition, the reality of winning games and the reality of having which kind of players in the team. When he took over Chelsea, the team was not that great, a few star players, but not really all that happening, with the money the club provided, he bought important players to fill in important roles and made Chelsea the team that is today. Without Essien or Drogba or Ashley Cole or then on form Ferreira, Chelsea will only be depending on Lampard for everything. The reality of winning, a win is a win, even if it is only 1-0, even if that goal is a lucky deflection, or an own goal, a win is a win even is the opponent have 90% of possession, even if its a boring 85minutes and 5minutes of action, a win is still a win, its 3 points, it wins you cups and it gives the team an impetus going to the next game. For example, Barcelona plays beautiful passing game, free flowing game, free scoring game, that because they are Barcelona, they have key players in key positions, they have Messi, Xavi, Ibramovic, Puyol and all, then now see Arsenal(eventhough I'm an Arsenal fan), same brand of footballing, free flowing passing game, free goal scoring, but why can't they win the league and cup? because they don't have those key players in key positions, they are improving though, but, not all team can play like that, it takes more than discipline and skills to do that, a more easy way to win, Mourinho has brought us, 1) a goal scoring striker 2)a creative midfielder 3)a strong defensive midfielder 4)disciplined back four........the team plays a defensive game, hit on counter attack, or play an attacking game and reserve your back four in the back, not pushing up that much, if your defense can stay strong and disciplined at the back, one goal scoring chance, one goal, is enough for a win. Some may say its a scrappy game, something relying on long rangers and lucky goals, but again, for Mourinho, a win is a win, and he is doing it the right way.
Thirdly, doing Motivation the right way. I'm not sure whether Mourinho did learn psychology or anything, but I'm pretty sure he is master of the minds behind the doors. When seeing him at Chelsea, frankly I must say, he is the only manager who stands by the tunnel and shake his players hand and mutter something to his players, I don't know what he is telling them, but my best guess is "good game" or "congratulations", who knows, even "fuck you" depending on the situation. He does stays cool and protects his player. When Drogba loses his head, Mourinho protects him in press conferences, this is very important for players as it give them a good psychological feel, that their manager loves them etc, and of course sometimes the opposite in the locker room help the players as well, but basically, when he was at Chelsea, he showed the players he was the boss, there is no one above him, and they do what he tells them, and he has brought this to Inter. Motivation and psychological edge is very important for players, especially professional players, if the mind is not right, they wont play right and they wont perform and stay disciplined. And it's a give and take situation, and I think Mourinho has find the right balance of it. Another thing about Mourinho is, he always remind his players about his tactics from the sides, often with hand signs and basically shouting at the players, makes the players feel that their manager is serious and want to improve, especially the ones that are sleeping in the game and got lost. Psychology, the basics of making people do exactly what you want them to do.
As a conclusion, Jose Mourinho changed this modern football world, now it's not only about the players and their skills, but managers, coaches, fitness coach, medical team, kit manager and all, but the managers in a way, manages all of this, and he needs everyone in the team to look at the same direction as he is. Managing a football team, Jose Mourinho is doing it right.
Then, I got exposed to a team called Arsenal, managed under a man call Arsene Wenger...........I just love their free flowing football, I cant remember much, but I remember Tony Adams Martin Keown Sol Campbell Ray Parlour Patrick Viera Freddie Ljungberg Robert Pires Nwanko Kanu Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry........and these times where manchester united and arsenal go head to head to win the epl title, I still remember how awesome all these players are, passing, linking up, short passes, long passes, they are almost the perfect team......and went on being unbeaten for a season or 49 games to be exact before being beaten by manchester united........but still......this team that made me like this Arsenal FC......their freeplay......eventhough in recent years, the whole team has declined........but a new batch of superstars are coming up.....and the last Arsenal game against Aston Villa, showed me the wonderful midfield performance that their seniors showed them before, and maybe, its a tribute for a senior as Robert Pires was at the other team on that day....hopefully, this new Arsenal can play their midfield as they did that day, be stronger in defence and stay out of injuries.........n my hero of this team is Thierry Henry...........hahaha
Frankly to say........I'm someone who loves history, especially ancient Greece, ancient Rome, ancient Egypt, so all those Colosseum, Julius Caesar and all did influence me to support this team........I love this team when I first saw, Francesco Totti....the first ever time, I saw and understand a player who plays in a free roaming positions......all over his career, he plays in center forward then shift to second striker then shift to attacking midfield in every game he plays......flexible and talented.....I saw Diego Forlan played in this style in the World Cup......and yesterday, I saw Lionel Messi doing something quite similar.........
