Mourinho-Stamford Bridge Fallout: Relevant to Ghana Soccer?

When a romantic goes in for a pragmatist, it ends in a divorce, say the expects.

Jose is a pragmatic Portuguese, who came to Stamford Bridge, after a triumph in Europe with a self-imposed bill “the special one” to flirt with the romantic Roman, the Russian billionaire on the Queen’s soil. Arguably, his days with Porto, and the rather short romance with Chelsea have got so much in the way of nothing but approbation and attestation of his much envied self-tag of “the special one”, which hitherto, many deemed a fantasy and was rather billed arrogant. But he seems to have proven many a connoisseurs wrong.

First, he conquered Europe with ‘no-name’ crew on his side. Carlos Alberto, Anderson Deco, Ricardo Cavalho, Paulo Ferreira and Benny McCarthy were the men on Jose’s side against a well-drilled Didier Dechamps’ Monaco side with Patrice Evra, Morientes, Nonda and Adebayor that sent the likes of Real Madrid packing en route to the finals, when both Arsenal and Manchester United, and all the Italian giants had been stubbed out. He proved to Santiago Bernabeu and the soccer side of world that it does not take a ‘galactico’ acronym but pragmatism to win Europe’s elite silverware. He must have been a special one to attain such feat, abi?

Second, Mourinho’s coming to the bridge was opposed by many but he survived the criticism. He had lived way above the anticipation. Claudio Ranieri had started the good work when rumors of Jose’s coming surfaced. The Italian had kicked a strong Arsenal side out of the quarter finals of the Champions League and many thought there was no need for Jose. The Portuguese however made everybody understand it was befitting that he came in. His back-to-back Premiership titles, Community Shield, FA Cup and the Carling Cup titles are all there to bear him out. “3 for 5”…wow! He really must be a special one indeed.

The “Special One” has proved a pain in the neck of the traditional Premiership landlords. Out of a total of eleven matches against United, Ferguson has beaten the former Porto manager only once and Arsene Wenger had been no better, seeing his dreaded Arsenal, whether with the fully-fledged gunners or the young lads, succumb to a tactically orchestrated Chelsea side, regardless of the presence of even the mercurial and talismanic Thierry Henry. And Rafa Benitez would walk bare chested and shoulder high for a feat his senior colleagues could not gather, having inflicted only four but one convincing defeat to the Portuguese, amidst a Luis Garcia controversial Champions League goal. The Stamford Bridge has gone three years in the Premiership, no home defeat. Yea, such was the architecture of juicy Jose the special one.

If you were Abramovic or Peter Kenyon would you let this ‘Special Man’ out of the binding even if Jose prompts or instigates it? What must have led to his fallout in relationship with the bridge hierarchy then? Ask yourself.

One thing is for sure:

Jose wants minnows like Mikel Obi and Salomon Kalou but Roman prefers big names like Sheva and Michael Ballack. Mourinho wants wins and titles, romantic Roman prefers sexy and entertaining football…role conflict, abi? Thus the Portuguese was denied the needed freedom to operate, the needed UPS/U (Uninterruptible Player Signings and Usage) which Wenger and Ferguson are enjoying. This has played a vehement role in the fallout leading to his poignant exit of the bridge.

Is there any bearing in the Stamford Bridge saga with Ghana Soccer?

Would you ask why Ratomir Dujcovic resigned? And Mariano Barreto? And Giuseppe “Kofi” Dossena?

Were you puzzled or alarmed as to why Milan Zivadinovic absconded with our money? And what about Rinus Israel, Ian Porterfield, Ernst Midddendorp, Ralf Zumdick?

These men have all ever complained of lack of interruption galore and lack of self independence ‘from above’ in their respective regimes regarding player invitation, selection and usage. Claude Le Roy is yet to make any such pronouncement albeit some Ghanaian soccer fans think the French is under same constrain or:

1. We would not have played two friendly matches in three days, venues of which were a whole continent apart;

2. Some players who are already dormant in their respective clubs would not have maintained their positions in the team when it was the same reason used in ridding off Baba Armando and Baffour Gyan before the Germany trip;

3. Isaac Boakye and Kuffour would have had a second look;

4. He would not have used our juvenile side to face an Iranian World Cup squad to get that humiliating and demeaning massacre when it was obvious the senior team was not ready for it. Would he ever do that in his native France?

Alex Ferguson has enjoyed so much freedom at Old Trafford. Until last season, he’d gone three successive seasons without Premiership title but no board member in the Old Trafford hierarchy ever interrupted in the Scot’s administration of his duties as manager.

Arsene ‘the adamant’ Wenger has been so obdurate to critics about his use of the now dreaded young gunners. People always would wonder why he had so much faith in Cesc Fabregas, Abou Diaby, Denilson, Aliadiere and Gael Clichy when Flamini, Hleb, Rosicky and Gilberto are fit to play. Emirates Stadium faithfuls would cry aloud yet the Arsenal backroom staff would not heed but allow Wenger do what he knows best. The Arsenal hierarchy gave him all the freedom to operate…Now is the reaping moment for Arsene and Arsenal. Is there any better creative midfielder in the premiership now than Cesc? The young gunners are set to take England and Europe by storm. The sexy football Abramovic has long yearned for, and the winsome attitude Jose’s figure is centered on, all prevalent at the Emirates Stadium, amidst their being named as the richest club in England some few days ago. What a party to be part of.

We need such breathe of air in our national teams. Our backroom staff must have to emulate the Old Trafford and Emirates Stadium Hierarchy. Give Le Roy all the self independence and freedom he wants, to operate, then after, you can complain for any non-performance if he fails to deliver. That will get Ghanaians’ approval and support. For real!!

We have a big tournament coming, on our land, and under our noses, and we must not falter. We must not allow this chance slip in our hands…Cote D’Ivoire and co must not beat us for the trophy in our own backyard, No!

But first, our manager needs to take decisions on his own, he needs to select who he deems fit. He needs that absolute control to deliver, and must be afforded that by the GFA hierarchy!!!

As I feel good laying a suggestion to the GFA, I take much strength in Jose Mourinho’s words:

"It is not possible (for) penalties (to be awarded) against Manchester United, and it is not possible (to get) penalties in favour of Chelsea. If somebody punishes me because I tell the truth, it is the end of democracy, we go back to the old times" - The former Chelsea boss fumed after seeing his side's penalty appeals against Newcastle turned down, a day after United were given the benefit of the doubt over a strong injury-time penalty claim by Middlesbrough in their clash at Old Trafford.

An Arsenal-like GFA would be a wonderful outfit.

God Bless!

Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.