"The best team lost but ... that's football" those were the words selected by Mourinho for his opening statement in a very conservative and reserved conference. It's also a sentence which has raised a lot of eye brows as people scratch their heads trying to work out whether Mourinho honestly felt United were the better team and he is the definition of sporting or is there an underlying agenda in his words.
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| 'The Special one' photo attributed to apasciuto http://www.flickr.com/photos/apasciuto/4862849741/ |
The game was what everyone expected with excitement at both ends and also goals for both sides, the big talking point was Nani's dubious sending off. He was told to leave the field after an aerial clash with Madrid right-back Alvaro Arbeloa, a decision which ultimately changed the game as United struggled to cope with the overwhelming attack of Madrid with ten men.
The key here and the catalyst for the Spanish teams brilliant period of play was the introduction of Luka Modric for Arbeloa an attacking choice made by Mourinho but one that made a difference as the Croat found space in between the lines and created numerous opportunities. The English giants struggled to pin down Modric as he continuously found space and the former Spurs midfielder fired Madrid level with a stunning strike.
In the next ten minutes after the equaliser the crowd at Old Trafford were treated to some breath-taking build up play as the Spanish team played by far their best spell of the game which not only saw them go ahead through Cristiano Ronaldo but also offered chances for them to further extend their lead, if not for some very good United defending.
But in a game which was very even in the first half and to be fair to United very even in the second until Nani's sending off it seems odd that Mourinho would claim that United were the better team in the game as it could be argued that Real were just as good.
Not only did Mourinho praise United as the best team in the game he also went on to speak about Sir Alex Ferguson and how he is the best manager in the world and how Old Trafford is one of the best grounds in the world to play at.
So Why is Jose Mourinho announcing to the media that the he felt his team were not as good as their opponents just minutes after securing a victory and continually heaping praise on the club he has just beaten ... I think the only person that could offer a definitive answer is the man himself. Is he just a true sportsman with the utmost respect for his opponents or his he after something else.
One idea why he could be so ready to give Manchester United such great praise could be that he has already spoken to someone at United and he believes that he is being lined up to take over the reigns from the great Scotsman. Could the Portuguese 'special one' really be waiting in the wings for the call to take over at the most decorated English football club in the modern era, if he his that may go some way to explaining why he has tried to keep his interviews so sweet.
Maybe we will find out in a year or two's time when Sir Alex finally decides enough is enough but until then Mourinho must enjoy his sides success and he will strive to provide Real Madrid with their first champions league trophy in ten years, whilst United continue their siege of the Premier League crown.
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