"The Tainted One"??

                     
                    Images speak for themselves, they say. For the entire last week, all the Sports media have filled the pages, with enlarged images of a single photograph. Jose Mourinho, the self-proclaimed "Special One", the so-called "Scourge of Barcelona", poking a finger into the eye of a Barcelona assistant coach, Tito Vilanova. Jose is being slammed, almost by all the sections of the Footballing fraternity. Arrogant, cowardly, despicable, I wonder how the adjectives haven't been exhausted yet. He's simply lost the plot, they say, Barca are simply too good for him. In the circumstances, it's difficult to be sympathetic to him. But you know, you just know, that writing Jose Mourinho off, is the footballing equivalent of a suicide.

"The Special One" : Never afraid of Controversies

                         Even the most ardent supporters will find it difficult to justify Mourinho's actions on the night. But then, just take a look at all those who're leading the charge against him, and you'll find they're no saints either. "Jose is destroying Spanish Football", said Gerard Pique. Apparently, poking a finger at an assistant coach is the gravest sin one can possibly perform, but shamelessly diving in the Semi-finals of one of the Most watched tournaments in the world doesn't really malign their image according to Pique.Nor does insulting an opponent on his religion or country. I'm not at all trying to defend Jose here, I despised his actions like any footballing faithful would do. But, people should notice the hypocrisy that's currently going on here.

                           Modesty has hardly been an illuminating aspect of Mou's persona, nor has been humility. But then, never forget, it's his brazen attitude and arrogance, which have made him the man he is today. Winner of  3 major European leagues and numerous domestic cups.Add to that, 2 continental titles won with not-so-fancied teams,all at the age of 48, and even the most vocal Mourinho-haters will be forced to admit he's good, damn good at what he does. Yes, some of his actions are despicable.Yes, he's a terrible loser. If you don't love him, it's pretty likely you hate him more than anything else. But even then, one can't deny his greatness. He's the man, who thwarted the heavenly Barca with Chelsea and Inter, he's the man who broke Manchester Utd and Arsenal's stranglehold on English Football, he's the one who single-handedly made Inter Champions of Europe, at a time when all other Italian teams were crumbling like sand-castles. Most importantly, one 0-5 demolition aside, he's the man who's defeated Barcelona in a cup competition which the Catalans had won 7 times more than Madrid. He's forced Barcelona, supposed to be the epitome of Beautiful football, to resort to unsavory tactics like playacting, and insulting opponents to get past the opposition. 

Jose Mourinho at Camp Nou : In your face....

                  It's difficult to like the man, I agree. All his theatrics, let it be the run down the touchline at Old Trafford after Porto's late equalizer, or silencing the Liverpool supporters after Gerrard's own goal in League Cup Final, to his sensational accusations against Barcelona this May, hardly improve his arrogant image. But, he has his gifts, the uncanny knack of uniting his team by creating a siege mentality. Getting himself in the line of fire, to provoke his players : "It's us against the whole world. Fight back in every way possible, and we shall prevail". Not the beautiful way of doing it,eh? But, Mou has hardly cared about the Universal opinions.
And it's been clear every time he's been criticised for his style of play.

Look, we're not entertaining? I don't care. We win. "

Was all he said, when such accusations were hurled, let it be at Chelsea, or Real Madrid. You can hate him for all you want, but even against Barcelona, this mighty Barcelona, count him off at your own peril. For tainted or not, he's still the "Special One".