The universe works in mysteriously hysterical ways. Sometimes, the pains of the past form a large pair of obnoxious aviator sunglasses, blinding us to how ridiculous we look despite the prevalence of mirrors and our unmistakable reflection. The Shevchenko-affair at Chelsea scarred Jose Mourinho. Jose detests pressure from owners to play certain players. Jose detests forwards that only “score goals.”
Thus, it is only fitting that Karim Benzema scored in last night’s game after a few seconds. While Jose can point to the incredible form of Di Maria, a goal is a goal is not a non-goal. And an away goal in the Champions League is almost worth two. Almost. Karim’s strike clearly impressed Perez, but the question remains: will molehills become mountains? Or will mountains move?
I am waging on neither.
Jose’s CV reveals the “talented turnover dilemma.” As a prospective employer, you can’t help but be impressed by the titles won and the teams coached. However, a pattern emerges. A routine raises red flags. Mourinho the genius suffers from eternal and inevitable…wanderlust. He may build a beautiful and trophy-winning squad, but how long will he stick around?
I know your reaction – Ha ha Ha ha. Madrid worried about coach turnover? They might as well install a carousel in the sala de prensa and give popcorn to the journalists. I’ve never seen the business card for the Real Madrid manager, but I imagine it has all the details of the job sans one: the name of the current manager. Instead, a blank space allows each successive manager to pencil in his or her name. Props to Madrid for going green. But…but….
In England, my team is Manchester United. However, I respect Arsenal. What do they have in common? Stability. Managerial stability. In professional sports, turnover is inevitable. Players get old. New players jump into the picture from out of nowhere. Still, coaching consistency can help to assure smooth transitions in the personnel department. Maybe, just maybe, no team on Earth should have four holding midfielders at one time (Diarra-Khedira-Diarra II-Gago).
Especially after letting Cambiasso and Makelele slip through our grips!
However, consistency and successive waves would challenge Mourinho as much as Madrid. Could he establish roots in the capital? Could he learn to blood rookies only to later cut the same player when they become veterans? Jose loves the sport and his tears for Schneijder showed his strong bond with certain players. At what point can that bond be severed? At what point would he himself sever it?
The temptation is to view this as the “hook-up” of the decade. Jose has the attention span of a fly and wants to win titles in Spain, just because he got bored in Portugal, England and Italy. Madrid just wants some trophies. Perhaps I’m naive to think either will change.
But if Benzema does not drive a wedge between the two, the black sheep of the family could very well be its unifying force.