As the final whistle sounded at the end of another El Clasico on Wednesday night, Jose Mourinho trudged down the tunnel, looking like a man who was resgined to defeat. He may very well resign from Real Madrid come May.
This was Mourinho's eleventh game in less than two seasons against Barcelona and although for once Real could claim to be unlucky in defeat, having dominated for large periods of the first half and having fought their way back from 2-0 down to 2-2, they still found themselves out of the Copa Del Rey, a trophy which they are the holders of, through Mourinho's only victory over Barcelona as manager of Real in last season's final. Other than that one game, which was only won after extra-time, Mourinho has lost to Bareclona on nine occasions with Real Madrid, and drawn once (the other night's match). It is a record which angers the Bernabeu club's loyal supporters. They expected Mourinho would turn things around and take them back to the top of the tree. Halfway through the La Liga season, he appears to have done this, but this record against Barcelona is a black cloud over what has been a pretty successful year and a half for Jose in Madrid. Until the 38th game is played however, and Real Madrid are confirmed as champions, Mourinho will not be considered a success, and with another game against Barcelona still to play and the knowledge that Guardiola's side are simply a class apart from any other team in the world, it is not not going to be an easy ride to the finish line.
Even if he does win the title, the rumours are growing by the day of a rift between Mourinho and his players, Mournho and the fans, Mourinho and the Real Madrid directors, Mourinho and everyone. If the rumours are true, and there is no doubt that the fans at least are beginning to turn on the self-proclaimed "Special One", then he may well be looking for another job next season. Another challenge.
There is one job that Mourinho has not taken yet, simply because the post has not been available. But we all know he wants it, a large proportion of the fans would want him, and the current manager has not hidden his admiration for him. This post is of course, that of Manchester United. None of us know when Fergie will finally call it a day, we all hope that he never does. But one day he will and United, unless taken on by the right man, could crumble after Ferguson. Throughout all changes at United in players, ownership and success, Fergie has overseen it all and without the right manager at the helm, I think there will be a lot of people both in and around Old Trafford, who will simply not know what to do. Whoever takes on the job will be a brave man indeed. It would be a potentially suicidal career move. There cannot be many men with success in their blood, like Ferguson, who will be able to give United the continuity that the fans will crave. One of the few men who would know what to do, and would almost inevitably bring continued success to the club, is Jose Mourinho.
He has always admired Ferguson and Manchester United, United fans secretly love him, or at least love to hate him, and Ferguson admires him. He probably sees himself in Mourinho in some respects. Intellgent, and both craving constant success. The difference between the two is that when Ferguson becomes successful, he tries to build on it at United. He has never got bored of building new teams and looking for new challenges, within Old Trarfford. When United are struggling, it is the same, he builds up a new team and pulls United through. Mourinho is different in a way that when he is successful, he looks for new challenges and new teams, but at different clubs, and when he is unsuccessful, he becomes frustrated and again looks for a new club to try and be the "Special One" at.
That is the one worry with Mourinho, which makes me think he may not be right for the club. Of course he would bring trophies and success, but if he wins two trebles in two years, is he going to wanrt to stay? He will have proven that he can face the toughest challenges, continuing the success of a man who most would say is impossible to follow. But once that challenge is complete, he will want a new one. Maybe the Portugal job, which is something he claims he dreams of doing one day. Meanwhile, if he does not continue the success of Ferguson, he will become unhappy, and look for a club where he can get that success. You would not expect that to be the case, and so the success of Mourinho would be almost guaranteed. The longevity not so much.
What United need to replace Fergie is a man with a similar approach, who can rebuild the club into his own, make them what he wants to be, and even if that takes a few years to get right, in the long-term it will be a whole lot better. The fans want continued success and Mourinho would bring that, no doubt about it, but if he were to leave after two or three years, what man would want to take a job where the shadows of both Ferguson and Mourinho loom over them? The fans may want immediate success and continued trophies, but this may be something we need to sacrifice for the greater good of Manchester United Football Club.
So for me, if Mourinho does leave Real and wants to wait for Fergie to finally say farewell, or even if he takes another job before then, in the long-term I do not think he would be a good choice for the success of the club. There may not be many other managers with the same credentials, but we do not want instability in management, following over 25 years of continuity in that area.
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