Bulgaria-Ireland preview - do we deserve to dream?
All the ups and downs of the hurling leagues as we explain final day permutations
Tributes paid to All-Ireland winning hurler Ger Fitzgerald on his passing
'Ave it! Jose having a go at Barca's Tito Vilanova in last night's post-match brawl. Balls.ie
Have your say
Poll: Is Jose Mourinho bad for football?
His teams’ playing style has long been a source of criticism, but after last night’s Supercup brawl, has Mourinho’s psychological warfare finally gone a step too far?
UNDONE ONCE AGAIN by the brilliance of Lionel Messi, Real Madrid fell to a 5-4 aggregate loss in the Spanish Supercup last night, but not before a violent tackle from Real’s Brazilian left-back Marcelo prompted a massive bench-clearing confrontation.
Another grubby episode in a year-long saga that’s seen the Spanish Clásico deteriorate from a showcase of attacking football to a reliably mean-spirited and disjointed parade of professional fouls and bickering, this most recent encounter proved the summer had done little to ease tensions between Spain’s dominant teams.
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It also granted a rare opportunity to see José Mourinho become physically involved in an on-field fracas. The camera lingered on the Real manager as he strode over to Barcelona’s assistant coach Tito Vilanova and, incredibly, stuck his finger in his eye.
To critics of the Portuguese, the breathtaking pettiness of the act, aswell as Mourinho’s smirking retreat, carried a weight of symbolic significance. For the first time, it seemed, he had given physical shape to the footballing ideology that motivates his teams.
But does the burden of responsibility really lie with Madrid? If so:
Do you agree with Barcelona’s Gerard Pique that Mourinho is “destroying Spanish football”?
Poll Results:
Yes, his teams are too defensive and reliant on fouling. (315)
No, he's a great tactician with high standards. (142)
Does Pique not realise who he plays for? Biggest divers in La Liga and constantly annoying the ref to try and get fouls there own way. Not to mention tapping up players. He’s nothing but a hypocrite
I disliked Jose from the day he proclaimed he was the ‘ special one’ on arriving at Chelsea. Admittedly, he is a top coach and his achievements are impressive (though he has always had world class players at his disposal ). His childish antics last season and last night will further polarise opinion on him without a doubt. PS, is that Sasha Baren Cohen in the pic featured on article intro?
I voted No on the question but having look at the video, I’m inclined to re-think that point of view. Up until now I’ve always seen him as a couch who used psychological means to masterfully take pressure off his teams and mess with the minds of others but this eye gouge incident is just childish and desperate! A sign of a man who’s frustrated and looking for a way to get attention anyway possible. That said I still rank him very highly.
He’s undoubtedly talented, but flawed. I think this latest incident is rather unsavoury. He has performed some amazing feats in management, none better than the shut out job done on Barca with Inter in the second half of second leg of the their Champions League semi-final. That was incredible. Barcelona’s grip on the major honours is going to be difficult to break, but I’d still rather have him around than anyone else.
I can’t choose anything there because i don’t think his teams are too defensive. They are when they have to be and thats just sound tactics.
I do agree that he is ruining football, I dont understand other United fans that want him as manager after fergie, we generally ship out players when their is ego is a quarter of Mourinhos(except Ronaldo but he actually won the league on his own) .
I agree with John his antics last season were childish, at the least.
Bulgaria-Ireland preview - do we deserve to dream?
8 mins ago
0
AnalysisLast day scramble
All the ups and downs of the hurling leagues as we explain final day permutations
56 mins ago
0
RIP
Tributes paid to All-Ireland winning hurler Ger Fitzgerald on his passing
6 hrs ago
5
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Does Pique not realise who he plays for? Biggest divers in La Liga and constantly annoying the ref to try and get fouls there own way. Not to mention tapping up players. He’s nothing but a hypocrite
Arsenal or united?
Does it matter?
I disliked Jose from the day he proclaimed he was the ‘ special one’ on arriving at Chelsea. Admittedly, he is a top coach and his achievements are impressive (though he has always had world class players at his disposal ). His childish antics last season and last night will further polarise opinion on him without a doubt. PS, is that Sasha Baren Cohen in the pic featured on article intro?
Borat
I voted No on the question but having look at the video, I’m inclined to re-think that point of view. Up until now I’ve always seen him as a couch who used psychological means to masterfully take pressure off his teams and mess with the minds of others but this eye gouge incident is just childish and desperate! A sign of a man who’s frustrated and looking for a way to get attention anyway possible. That said I still rank him very highly.
He’s undoubtedly talented, but flawed. I think this latest incident is rather unsavoury. He has performed some amazing feats in management, none better than the shut out job done on Barca with Inter in the second half of second leg of the their Champions League semi-final. That was incredible. Barcelona’s grip on the major honours is going to be difficult to break, but I’d still rather have him around than anyone else.
I can’t choose anything there because i don’t think his teams are too defensive. They are when they have to be and thats just sound tactics.
I do agree that he is ruining football, I dont understand other United fans that want him as manager after fergie, we generally ship out players when their is ego is a quarter of Mourinhos(except Ronaldo but he actually won the league on his own) .
I agree with John his antics last season were childish, at the least.