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Mourinho - The Media Man or The Portuguese Pathfinder

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Pablo Luna- Moonlighting for Betfair

There has been a lot written and said about this pioneer and in my book not enough of it complimentary. You have to understand his background before you can understand who he has become.

First of all he is a young Portuguese man (only 41 when he came to the UK) who has Latino traits of being passionate, excited and intense and this will always be in stark contrast to English Football Managers. Sometimes he reacts and thinks like a Portuguese not an Englishman, so why should we be surprised?

He was a frustrated footballer but had the common sense to know that he was not going to emulate his father (International Goalkeeper for Portugal) so he rightly changed direction and became a Fitness Trainer whilst gathering valuable knowledge from people like Bobby Robson and Louis Van Gaal.

The fact that he has now progressed beyond these two is testament to his intelligence, determination, confidence and articulation. He has combined his knowledge of many facets of football including man management, motivation, preparation, organisation, tactics, fitness and the media. He will constantly look for an edge and then exploit it.

He has a scientific view of coaching that is based on organised defence and that the players must be prepared to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the team. Some players find this hard to do and Robben and Ballack will soon be leaving Stamford Bridge.

He gives the team dietary instructions and often asks them to watch videos of their performance and then discuss with him how to improve and eliminate mistakes. Nothing is left to chance.

He displays cunning and mischief with the media, cocooning and shielding his players from criticism and preferring to take it all himself. Using the media he tries to gain any advantage for his team by applying pressure on others, including referees. Most of the time this works for him.

This has not always worked as in the case of Anders Frisk, the fake tanned prancing show pony in the Champions League Quarter Final against Barcelona. There is no doubt in my mind that Frisk had a bigger ego than Mourinho and wanted to prove it.

I believe him to be professional and honest and he has total support of the Chelsea players. Key players stood up to Roman Abramovich and made it quite clear that if Mourinho went so would they and this made Abramovich retreat from any idea of sacking him.

As a man he is misunderstood. He is a devout family man. He is loyal to those who give to him. He shows the same parentalism to his players as to his family. He will not let his family be exposed to the media. He is a very protective man (we all remember what he did when they tried to take his dog away!).

He has a social conscience and the work he has done trying to bring communities together in Israel and Palestine is magnificent. Has there ever been one English Manager who has done anything like that? Do not think so! In conversations with Mourinho he will often talk about the poor and the deprived and I predict that he will do even more work in this area in the future.

The English Press love to write about Jose Mourinho. He is arrogant and conceited they all shout! Yes he is. He thinks he is special, he thinks he is great. Yes he is. They said the same about Brian Clough and he was the greatest manager this country has ever had.

I guarantee the press will be writing about him for years to come as he gains more experience, we have to bear in mind he has already won four titles in a row, two with Porto and two with Chelsea and has won the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup. He has won five domestic cup competitions. He also did the treble with Porto (League, Cup and Super Cup, Portuguese equivalent of the Community Shield.

I note that Chelsea are currently trading at 2.76 favourites on Betfair despite their injury situation and the fact that Manchester United at 2.92 have spent big in the close season, that represents a vote of confidence in Mourinho.

One day he will manage Portugal and I predict the day that happens the country will rise to the occasion and a wave of nationalism and hope will sweep the country. I can see the statue of the special one in his native Setúbal now!

Pablo