Mourinho – great coach but is he a liability?

Whilst he has had a remarkably successful career, it is also fair to say that Inter boss Jose Mourinho has rarely been too far away from controversy.

Disappointing

Following Inter’s somewhat disappointing 1-1 draw with Atalanta on Sunday the Italian Sport Union of journalists accused Mourinho of “physical and verbal aggression” towards Corriere dello Sport reporter Andrea Ramazzotti.

Inter remain five points clear at the top of Serie A but results and performances have not been all that special for the ‘special one’ and the dream of European glory that he saw with Porto but failed to bring to Chelsea, seems as far away as ever with his present club.

Physical

Mourinho admits that he had words with the journalist but totally denies any ‘physical aggression’.

“I don’t like journalists near the team bus after a game. I came out of the bus and I insulted him twice. But I did not try to hit him, there was no physical contact.”

The forty-six year old Portuguese coach stated thet he had been totally unaware of the fact that the journalist had actually been given permission to be where he was.

Mourinho did not attend Sunday’s post-match press conference as he was serving a one-game touchline ban.

Investigate

Inter president Massimo Moratti confirmed earlier this week he would investigate the incident and it may just be that he is close to having had enough of Mourinho. It isn’t the first time that he has been accused of physical aggression and it certainly isn’t the first time his mouth has got him into trouble.

The problems and controversy that Mourinho brings are certainly worth it if he brings the kind of success to a club that he did to Porto and that he did to Chelsea before things turned a little sour.

Success

At Inter he has won Serie A but that had been done several times. I would fancy my chances of leading Inter to that title! Mourinho was brought in to bring about success in Europe. Whilst they just about managed to qualify out of the group stages, the chances of going very much further look pretty slim.

Without the big money and glory that European success brings, Inter may well decide that the baggage surrounding their colourful coach is not worth having on board.

Spectacular

Since arriving in Italy Mourinho has fallen out in spectacular fashion with many facets of the media and he has openly criticised and fallen out with just about every other top manager in the country.

Some people love him and some people hate him but it is very difficult not to have an opinion one way or the other. His record as a manager speaks for itself but whereas that would normally demand a certain level of respect, with Mourinho that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Terrible

I have always been a Mourinho fan although Porto were terrible watch in their Champions League winning season, Chelsea were never great entertainers and failed to achieve in Europe and he has pretty much failed to take Inter forward from where they were when he took over.

Having said that, since 2003 he has won two Portuguese league titles, one Portuguese Cup, the UEFA Cup, the Champions League, two Premier Leagues, two Carling Cups, the FA Cup, the Serie A title and the Italian Super Cup. That’s eleven trophies in three countries and Europe in seven years.

Despair

The man is a great coach but even his supporters, like me, despair when stories such as this latest one come out. He is not bigger than the game and he cannot behave in a manner such as this.