It has been a very long goodbye but finally, on Monday evening, journalists crowded into the press room at the Santiago Bernabéu to hear Real Madrid club President Florentino Pérez confirm what everyone has known for months: José Mourinho will leave at the end of the season. His three years at the club have been marred by controversies and there were numerous other occasions when it was felt he might depart, but in recent months, with results going against Los Blancos and his own players turning against him, his position at the helm of one of the biggest clubs in the world had become untenable. In his first season, Madrid won the Copa del Rey, in the second they stormed to their first … [Read more...] about La Liga: The end of a controversial era for Real Madrid
Mourinho
Spain has melted Mourinho’s aura of invincibility
On a recent visit to Setúbal, near Lisbon, I noticed some massive billboards at the side of the road for an exhibition marking half a century on earth of the town’s most famous son. José Mourinho – 50 anos, documents the meteoric career of The Special One, through photographs of his many professional triumphs, with a few personal moments thrown in. It was a reminder of how revered he remains in Portugal - perhaps the country’s most famed living son, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. But on arriving back in Madrid, I realised how differently the Portuguese and Spanish regard him. In his adopted country, his reputation has been on a steady slide for much of the three seasons he has spent here, … [Read more...] about Spain has melted Mourinho’s aura of invincibility
La Liga: Atlético seek to make most of Real Madrid’s civil war
It has been 14 years since Atlético Madrid last took the scalp of their neighbours. Their inferiority complex has lasted since 1999, and on Friday the cross-town rivals meet in the Copa del Rey final. At times during that period, Los Rojiblancos have played better than Real Madrid but still the latter have taken victory. The occasional draw is about as close as Atlético have come to breaking the jinx and despite renewed optimism earlier this season when Diego Simeone’s men were in fine form, they lost again. Twice, in fact: the latest la liga game between the two at the Vicente Calderón just over two weeks ago saw a second-string Madrid side who were without Cristiano Ronaldo win … [Read more...] about La Liga: Atlético seek to make most of Real Madrid’s civil war
Tales for Tapas: Compelling drama
Apart from that Sinatra-esque farewell announcement in 2001, Sir Alex Ferguson’s just-confirmed departure from Manchester United has been a model of timeliness accompanied by a minimum of fuss – in rather stark contrast to the goings-on at Real Madrid, where the José Mourinho soap opera, now ostensibly focused on the benching of the goalkeeper and captain, in reality hinges on the fine print of the manager’s employment contract. Despite his age (quite advanced in football years) Iker Casillas remains at the peak of his prodigious powers. His dissatisfaction about being dropped from the first team, the coach suggested this week, is fuelled by the covert desire for a more “manageable” … [Read more...] about Tales for Tapas: Compelling drama
La Liga: Barcelona close in on long-awaited title
Finally, the day is near. It has been long overdue for a team that have left all others in their wake in La Liga, and were seemingly champions elect by Christmas, but FC Barcelona have still yet to officially win their long-awaited title. A Lionel Messi-inspired 4-2 win against Real Betis at the weekend leaves his side just two points from the prize, which could be secured on Wednesday if Real Madrid fail to win at home against Málaga or at the weekend, when Tito Vilanova’s men travel to Atlético Madrid. Last season, Barcelona lost the liga crown they had held for three consecutive years to José Mourinho’s team and as the curtain was raised in August with the league opener – the … [Read more...] about La Liga: Barcelona close in on long-awaited title
La Liga: Wins give Real Madrid and Barça belief ahead of clásico
More often than not it comes down to this. In a league dominated by the ‘Big Two’ of Real Madrid and Barcelona, when the business end of the season arrives, it’s the arch-rival that stands in the way. They are familiar foes and yet the rivalry does not dim, does not lose its edge, it only seems to get bigger and more meaningful, with more riding on their meetings every season. This week there will be two Clásicos in the space of five days, the first tonight, is the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final at the Camp Nou, while the other, on Saturday, is a league fixture to be played at the Bernabéu. Real Madrid will most likely be conceding their league title to the Catalans come … [Read more...] about La Liga: Wins give Real Madrid and Barça belief ahead of clásico
La Liga: Mourinho eyes Manchester United clash and Madrid exit
In 2004, with a manic run down the Old Trafford touchline to celebrate knocking Manchester United out of the UEFA Champions League, José Mourinho announced himself to the world. It was to be the start of a new era for him and “The Special One” was born a few months later when Porto clinched the title and Chelsea came calling. Tomorrow, Mourinho faces Manchester United again, first at the Santiago Bernabéu and then at The Theatre of Dreams in the return leg of the last-16 tie and it could mark a new era in his career, the beginning of the end at Real Madrid. Ahead of the game, Los Merengues hosted Sevilla on Saturday night looking to put memories of their paltry performance at Granada … [Read more...] about La Liga: Mourinho eyes Manchester United clash and Madrid exit
La Liga: Real Sociedad inflict Barça’s first loss of season
A strange thing happened at the weekend - something not witnessed at all during the 2012/13 season so far. Having drawn with Málaga in the Copa del Rey in midweek, FC Barcelona finally lost a liga game after 19 jornadas unbeaten. Tito Vilanova’s men were looking pretty much unstoppable having torn apart almost every team they have come up against, but Real Sociedad were to inflict the Catalans’ first liga defeat, coming from two goals down to claim a last-minute 3-2 victory over the league leaders. It had seemed to be business as usual for Barça, who took the lead early on with a Lionel Messi goal. The Argentine scored for a record 10th game in a row when he struck after just seven … [Read more...] about La Liga: Real Sociedad inflict Barça’s first loss of season
La Liga: Messi’s Ballon d’Or highlights gulf dividing Barça and Real
As liga action resumed after a short break for Christmas, it seemed not much had changed in Spanish football. Barcelona continued their winning run and got their manager Tito Vilanova back following surgery after his cancer was found to have returned, José Mourinho was still stirring the pot at Real Madrid by continuing to leave Iker Casillas on the bench, Fernando Llorente still wants out of Athletic Bilbao and Lionel Messi once again stood in Cristiano Ronaldo’s way to take the FIFA Ballon d’Or. The Argentine was awarded the prize for the fourth consecutive time in Zurich on Monday night, beating teammate Andrés Iniesta and the Portuguese forward to the prestigious honour in a year when … [Read more...] about La Liga: Messi’s Ballon d’Or highlights gulf dividing Barça and Real
La Liga: The end is nigh for José Mourinho
This season, there have been very few quiet weekends in the Spanish capital and on Saturday evening, one decision by José Mourinho opened the floodgates. At around 7pm, with just over an hour to go to kick-off, the press began circulating the news. Club president Florentino Pérez was caught on camera, peering at the phone of a Canal+ presenter to read the extraordinary line-up and appearing bewildered. When the starting eleven was confirmed a few minutes later, it was clear why. Club captain and World Cup winning goalkeeper Iker Casillas was dropped to the bench and replaced in goal by Antonio Adán. The man dubbed ‘San Iker’ for the miracles he performs in front of goal for Los … [Read more...] about La Liga: The end is nigh for José Mourinho