By Sheriff Abugu
Once more Jose Mourinho has taken Europe by storm, beating the highly talented, young and impressive Ajax side 2-0 in the final of the UEFA Europa League.
This feat makes the controversial Portuguese coach to become the only coach to have won two UEFA Europa League titles and two UEFA Champion’s League titles. A record among so many enviable records of the former Real Madrid and Porto boss.
Again, as usual, it was the tactics that the “special one” employed in ensuring that he got a “victory at all cost” that has become a subject of debate. Jose Mourinho has been criticised for playing quite an unattractive kind of football. In fact, the Ajax head coach, Peter Bosz slammed Mourinho for the approach of the Manchester United club, claiming it was a “boring game”. Too many a times, as a football enthusiast, I have heard this kind of criticism. Basically, the cliche is that Jose Mourinho does not play attacking football. How true is this?
It has been said that “Incorrect assumptions lie at the root of every failure. Have the courage to test your assumptions.” This is quite true.
At peak, Jose won the Champions League twice. Let’s look at how he sojourned to win the trophy each time. This might help place the claim that the former Inter manager does not play attacking football.
With Porto, he won the Round-16 beating Manchester United on an Aggregate of 3-2. In the quarter final and semi final, Jose’s Porto defeated Lyon (Aggregate: 4-2) and Deportivo (Aggregate: 1-0) respectively. They won the final against Monaco 3-0.
With Inter Milan in 2010, Jose’s men won the Round-16 beating Chelsea on an Aggregate of 3-1. In the quarter final and semi final, Inter Milan defeated CSKA Moscow (Aggregate: 2-0) and Barcelona (Aggregate: 3-2) respectively. They won the final against Bayern Munich 2-0.
These statistics speak volume. The critical factor here is that at no time did Jose’s team sail through to the next stage through penalty kicks or an away goal advantage.
His teams overpowered opponents by scoring more goals than their opponents did. Yes, they scored more goals than their rivals! You can’t claim to be an attacking side when you can not stop conceding goals. Scoring lesser goals than your opponent and claiming to be a better attacking side is a faulty claim.
The claim that Mourinho does not play attacking football is misleading and can only serve as consolation for frustration: the frustration of not having the capacity to break down a well-organised defence.
A team that can commit so much effort to defend efficiently and still come out to hurt your defence is the best kind of attacking team. It is difficult to accept that a side that scored more goals than Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona and Bayern to clinch the UEFA Champions League title is not an attacking side.
In a football duel, it is very important to accurately evaluate your weakness and strength and then create a balance between both to give you an edge over your opponent.
For example, in the Europa final match, Ajax were unable to mount pressure on the Manchester United defence with the sort of swiftness and accuracy needed to break down that kind of defence.
It was a betrayal of trust for a side that claims to be a superior attacking side. Even the head coach admitted saying, “I haven’t seen the Ajax that I’m used to, which means good football, high pressing and being dominant .. I’m disappointed because you play finals to win them.”
I think Jose Mourinho has a superior ability at playing to weaknesses of opponents while limiting their strengths through his own strengths. In doing this, he makes sure he plays the sort of attacking football that is efficient. It is safe to say that he parades attacking sides that defend very well.
However, in the game of football, losses are painful and many resort to blaming others rather than looking inwards. Even Mourinho himself is guilty of the blame game.
From: Sheriff Abugu
CEO, Africana Sports