The anger builds in Jose Mourinho
Looking back, perhaps this was not the week Jose Mourinho should have taken on the Italian media.
On Sunday, just days after the Inter Milan coach had lambasted reporters, his previously unbeaten team, the defending Serie A champion, was shut out, 1-0, by rival AC Milan on a goal by Brazilian legend Ronaldinho.
There are likely to be more than a few Italian writers who will relish the turn of events, given what Mourinho had said.
The Portuguese icon is the highest-paid soccer coach in the world and was taken aback when reporters criticized him for skipping a postgame news conference in the middle of the week and then declining to be interviewed at the same time as Juventus Coach Claudio Ranieri.
The media said it all smacked of a lack of respect, causing Mourinho to get quite hot under the collar.
"I studied Italian for five hours a day for several months to be able to communicate with you journalists [and] with the fans," he said, "and you think that I lacked respect for you?
"And then you speak about Ranieri, who after five years in England had trouble saying good morning and good afternoon."
Mounrinho had sent assistant coach Beppe Baresi to talk to the media. The practice of coaches sending assistants is not uncommon at other top clubs in Europe, but apparently is not popular in Milan.
Mourinho said that only Massimo Moratti, Inter's president, could order him not to employ Baresi this way.
"You didn't respect Baresi," the coach told journalists. "The concept is clear. If you haven't understood it, I can do you a drawing."
After Sunday's loss, the media will no doubt be drawing conclusions of their own.
-- Grahame L. Jones
Photo: Inter Milan Coach Jose Mourinho talks to striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic during the Italian Serie A soccer match against Torino on Sept. 21. Inter Milan won, 3-1. Massimo Pinca / Associated Press
I'm glad inter lost. Mourinho should had never let Suazo go. Ibrahimovic keeps choking on big games.
Posted by: Josh | September 28, 2008 at 07:46 PM
Mourinho hasn't adjusted well to the fact that Italian sports media has more access then their counterparts in England. One has to wonder how Mourinho would do in the U.S., especially the East Coast. Reporters at practices and in the lockerroom, that's not something he'd like.
Posted by: Brian | September 29, 2008 at 08:46 AM
And now he has gone and stated that Italians don't love football as much as he thought . . . good way to keep the press off your back Jose . . .
http://www.setantasports.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/09/28/Serie-A-Mourinho-on-Italian-football/?facets/sport-space/great-britain-locale/
Posted by: Brian | September 29, 2008 at 04:50 PM
Common..i am not a jose fan since his time at chelsea but this guy is the only chance italy has in this season's ECL...he is gud for Italian football too!!!
Posted by: Yaqoub | September 29, 2008 at 09:06 PM
Football is Life. The Rest is Just Detail. That sums up What The special one is saying
Posted by: Austin Ator Omachi | October 01, 2008 at 06:33 AM
Jose is the greatest manager on earth n he is going to the win champs league this year so he is going to do double in ALLAH'S NAME
Posted by: khalid gariba | October 25, 2008 at 12:20 PM