Football really is a funny old game. Whether you win, lose or draw, as an owner, manager or player, at some point, what you say or how you play can always come back to haunt you. Always!
Just a few seasons back when Jose Mourinho was manager of Chelsea, he made this comment following a Premier League game against London rivals Tottenham. “As we say in Portugal, they brought the bus and they left the bus in front of the goal. I would have been frustrated if I had been a supporter who paid £50 to watch this game because Spurs came to defend. There was only one team looking to win, they only came not to concede – it’s not fair for the football we played.”
With Inter Milan’s heroic victory over Barcelona in the semi-final of the Champions League this week, you could easily point the finger at Mourinho and his Inter team for parking their bus in front of the Catalan goal at the Nou Camp. You could also say that fans were upset his team was so defensive and that they didn’t come to play real football against the world’s prettiest team. You could say Mourinho did to Barcelona what Tottenham did to him. But would you? Was this really a case of parking the bus, or was it purely a defensive master class planned by the Special One and executed by his loyal army of men?
If you read the media reports in Italy, Mourinho’s team played like heroic gladiators on the night. If you read the media reports in England, it’s evident how the British game misses Jose since his departure from the Premier League. And if you read the media reports in Spain, Inter’s play was negative and “park the bus like” and Barca were the unlucky heroes after dominating on the night. Isn’t it great how we can all see things so differently? But don’t you think that even as rival football fans we should give credit to the opposing team when we witness something truly amazing?
For me, it wasn’t a case of parking the bus, it was truly a case of tactical mastery. And as we said in a post earlier this month when Inter Milan beat Chelsea, Jose Mourinho is still very much the Special One. Perhaps we would have viewed Inter Milan’s approach differently if they had kept 11 players on the pitch. But when you go a player down and you are winning the tie by 2 goals, there’s no need to gamble. There’s no need to chase the game. You just defend. And that’s what Inter Milan did. And their organization, their timing, their positioning…it was all just so impressive. It wasn’t a case of parking the bus and hoping for the best. They wore Barcelona down. They had the tactics and the will to win. The red card changed the game.
Busquet’s beahviour was disgusting. The way he had one eye on the referee while rolling around like a girl was grotesque. Motta should definitely know that in the modern game if you touch a player’s face like that you could be sent off. But the manner in which Busquet reacted was truly unsportsmanlike. As talented as Barcelona are, it’s this part of their game that makes them unattractive. They get away with it and the media doesn’t give them a tough time about it. Lots of acting, rolling around and poor behaviour overall. Following that incident, I found myself rooting for Inter Milan even more. And I think the sending-off gave the Inter team even more determination to win.
Even Lionel Messi couldn’t do anything in that game and despite Barca’s dominance of possession, they couldn’t break down the Inter defense because of the incredible organization and discipline. Pique finally got the goal that gave Barca hope, but the game was already lost in the second half in Milan. And all Mourinho had to do at the Nou Camp was not give anything cheap away by gambling unnecessarily. They played their game to perfection and shockingly, for a defensive performance by one team, it was still compelling and thrilling to watch.
When the final whistle reverberated around the Nou Camp, Mourinho exploded into a celebration like we’ve never seen before. It was even crazier than his leg slide across the pitch and his running down the touch line. This time around he ran onto the pitch with his finger firmly pointing in the air. You could see how much this all meant to him. How much he wanted to win this game. In fact, he wanted more than just a victory. He wanted to dot the “I” and cross the “T.” He wanted to show Barcelona they made a mistake about him. He wanted to prove he could beat the best in their own back yard. And he did. And Victor Valdes could do nothing about it!
Mourinho will continue to beat the best in their own back yard. Why? Because he is the best. He’s special. And when his career is over and he’s sitting in his favourite chair looking back, he will have an abundance of trophies from each of the major footballing countries. And he will probably have a World Cup winners medal with Portugal too. Only one question remains and we asked it a few months ago. Where will he go next? Wherever he goes, fasten your seat belts and get your popcorn ready, because as T.O. says “it’s going to be a show.”
Do you think Mourinho’s celebration was over-the-top? Did Inter Milan park the bus…?
I think Mourinho is a wizard they should call him Jose Potter, as the “what do you think?” section the other day it feels so good to know that Chelsea fans are gutted he left.
Back to the post in hand ‘park the bus’ he did indeed. But who cares how you win right? If you park the bus or not Mourinho got the better of Gardiola. Was a great match to watch and the two best managers of the world on the touchline.
I was cheering for Barcelona I think they are great and I am a big fan of Messi but the team and Messi didnt produce the goods and I really thought they would. I guess you could say it was Messy. Should the goal from Bojan have stood is what is playing on my mind? I think it was a goal and Barca should be in the final. With Barca being out of the competition I feel less than enthused by the final. Inter v Munich? Really? This is what your serving me this year? However I am still gonna watch it just for ‘the special one.’ Do you think Liverpool will go knocking for something special? They definetly need it.
Mourinho’s celebration was quality showed what it truely means, he kinda stuck the middle finger without doing it. I think every manager should celebrate in that way. Can you imagine ‘Arry running onto the pitch (hopefully when spurs get 4th spot) and how great will it feel if Arsenal to lose there remaining games and Spurs wins thiers. Who needs 4th when we can get 3rd? Lady Yid can hope and dream right?
Anyways ‘park the bus?’ well it worked. Hats off to Inter (especially Lucio..he was brilliant) good luck for the final. Have a little feeling Munich might win, Robben to score the winner?
Beware of Munich…beware…I can’t see Robben denying his old master. But Munich have the quality to ruin any team’s night. They destroyed United and Lyon, both good teams. I wouldn’t mind a couple Munich players in my team!!!
Would love to see Morinho in the Premier League again. But is Liverpool the right club for him? Not sure. It’s the only chance Gerrard has of winning the league unless he moves clubs this summer. The United job is the one Jose wants but not sure if Fergie wants that.
By the way…let’s not forget that Fergie is the best manager in the world and still the best in the game. Pep won the treble but needs to do more to be considered the world’s best. Jose is definitely there, but needs to keep winning Fergie style to be crowned the greatest…
Jose Potter…love it!!!
It wasn’t a great match, I have to disagree. As soon as the game kicked off Inter retreated to the edge of their box, and being at home Barca really didn’t do enough to win the game. It took till the 80th minute before they scored and then followed by the disallowed goal, which I think was very generous.
I would have loved it if the goal stood and then we would have had a game, a real game in the last ten mins, and could see Inter trying to get a goal and Barca defend, that would have been interesting.
He parked the bus!
Mourinho did his job in the San Siro.
It will be a decent final I think. Sneijder, Robben, Milito, Van Bommel. There are some quality players out there. This could go either way. Mourinho has been there before, can he do it again? Will Robben have the last laugh?
I think it’s good that we have different teams in the final, it’s a nice change. Although I would have loved to see Barca in the Final purely because it is played in the Bernabeu and that would have been painful for all the Real faithful, especially if they won it.
But Bayern and Inter deserve to be there so give them credit. I’m sure they will put on a great show.
I’m over Barca. I’m ready for a new footballing King to be crowned.
Barca are superbly talented but also a bunch of whiners and babies. I think this was a humbling experience for them which is scary because they’ll come back bigger next season.
Inter played the card they had. And, in case nobody was watching, they beat Barca at football in the San Siro.
I love that Bayern are in the final and Inter too. Traditional teams but teams that have also missed out in the last few years in this competition.
What about the job Van Gaal has done? Pretty impressive. Remember this post http://britishsoccerdiva.com/prod/?p=309
You called it. He has done a great job and no one gave them a chance against United, and he did the business. Not only that, he could be on for a double and bring European glory back to Bayern.
He kept Ribery for another season, it’s a shame he won’t be in the final, added Robben who has been immense for Bayern.
Looking forward to the final now.
How dare you Soccer diva diss the Barca.
Bayern to win
and the new footballing King you are referring to…….TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS!
YID ARMY! I bleed blue
Tottenham post to come Lady Yid…
as for Barca – like Jonesy said it really is good to see other teams in the final…a bit like seeing Tottenham do well…makes a change really!
It’s been a good Champions League season, not the best, but it’s still been good…
When will the post for fourth place be up?
There is a lot to be said. I’m sure Lady Yid has a lot more to say too.