Former Chelsea star Claude Makelele has praised his former coach Jose Mourinho as a winner, but has accused the Portuguese manager of hogging the limelight and criticised him for taking all the credit for the team’s success during the duo’s time at Stamford Bridge.
The French midfielder told El Confidencial:
“He is a born winner, he knows how to use you and get the best from you, from this point of view he is a great coach.”
Makelele added:
“The problem is when he leaves you out. He is calculated, cruel and ambitious. He used to keep players away from the spotlight so he could take all the fame.
“We used to get drunk together and joke about, but then he forgot about everyone and just focused on the new players.
“He forgot about the players and he just took all the credit for himself. No-one was allowed to be more famous than him.”
One man’s opinion, third hand, and “taken out of context”? Anthony, when you are good, you are very, very good (in my opinion), but ……………!!!!
Do you “blog” to inform, or form opinion? Subtle, huh? Now apply that to your latest offering.
Did Mourinho manage team tactics and man manage? Yes. Was Mourinjo the “front man” for the team/club and considered responsible or the team’s results (as Managers usually are)? Yes. Is one man/teamplayer more important than club? No. Should “squad players” have more say/ equal say than the Manager(to the outside World)? No.
If Makalele’s argument is flawed (which it is in my opinion as we don’t know the context of the original question), then what are you getting at?
Those are fair enough points.
I suppose by using Maka’s quotes that I was trying to represent his opinion of Mourinho the winner and the negative side to his personality, which is relevant in the context of a possible return to the Bridge for Jose, no?
My opinion, grateful for what Mourinho done at Chelsea and he’d be an improvement on Carlo.
However, would it be the best appointment for the long term future of the club? Remains to be seen as is yet to do something on a long term basis, but that’s not to say he’s incapable of doing so.
Understood. That water has passed under the bridge (no pun intended!) for all parties is one of the variables that does not appear to be addressed in this matter. Mourinho was the bees knees (warts and all} when he was with us. We do not know the facts of his dismissal/resignation. It is assumed and promoted by the tabloid business media that Abramovich is football,management,commitment,and business ignorant, and these views are regurgitated by the masses. I tend to think that he is passionate about football and Chelsea, and that his “autocratic management style”, which has put him where he is in the business world, is not understood by the average punter/supporter.
Having tried it “his way” with various other managers in the interim, he may have come to the conclusion that Mourinho may in fact be the long term future of the club. It is obvious to me that the “rebuilding” of the playing staff is part of his good business practice and planning. Time does not stand still and all people change. However, what we lack is the consistent front man of the “stature” that manure and arse have enjoyed for lengthy periods.
Mourinjo’s track record of management and success is outstanding. Yes, you are correct, he has not shown “consistency in time” with any one club – but then the record wouldn’t be what it is. We have to compare apples with apples here.
What the man does bring is in your face charisma, the winner takes it all attitude, and dynamic leadership. He has recently openly stated that he would not go to a rival team in any of the leagues he has been involved with, out of respect for those teams.
Abramovich would not be oblivious to public sentiment or advice from the management team that surrounds him in regard to Chelsea. The positive reasons for taking on Mourinho in the first instance remain, and have been enhanced. No-one else has come close. Mourinho has probably matured in the sense that he realises too that maybe his “relationship” with the owner needs to be better adapted.
What none of the “interim” managers has brought is the (fighting) Chelsea spirit. They are all nice and honourable men in their own way, but (and I think I may have been around a tad longer than you)since when did Chelsea do “nice”?
We probably agree that motivation and (lack of) strong leadership are the root causes of the currently ending “blip”.
Apparently Makalele, the supremely consistent artist and professional midfielder that he was,had no problem delivering for the team under Mourinho’s management style at the time. His job was to play football the way the manager instructed, whilst the manager took the heat as the Club’s “front man”.
The mere hint that Mourinho may “rejoin” Chelsea causes a media frenzy and, I would submit, fear in our adversaries. Isn’t that what we want again?
Thanks for the comment, Danny.
I agree, you can’t argue with anything the guy has achieved and you’re right in what you say about a return would put fear in the minds of the rivals.
It’s certainly a big story and a big talking point and something which I have been thinking about a great deal, which is why I’ve scheduled an article for about 9pm, in light of Torres’ alleged comment about Mourinho.
If we were to bring Mourinho back then I’d fully be behind it, and I’d like to see him prove critics wrong when they say he has no longevity and cannot nurture young talent.
In your opinion, how likely do you think a return would be?
Very, and this summer to be specific. Abramovich has tried it his way, to no avail, and the list of potentials (as on your latest offering) provides no one of any callibre – apart from Mourinho. Abramovich is the decision maker here and he will divorce emotion from that business process. Needless to say, he is hardly likely to let Mourinho be snapped up by any other outfit either. Compromise is the name of the game here – and both parties are saying the right things through their respective channels – again as you point out.I don’t know who invented that list (Martin O’Neil – purleeeez!)but take out the oldies, emotion, and flash in the pans and you have your answer.
Bottom line – PR value and Global branding seal it.Another case for the application of Ockham’s Razor?
Who would be his assistant though – now that would be an interesting decision!
The list in the poll? It’s based on the current odds with the bookmakers (never expected O’Neill to get so many votes :/ ), but I threw in an outsider like Zola in there on sentimentality. I’d like to see him back in some capacity, perhaps he’s a potential candidate for the assistant manager role.
It would appear that Jose is the most likely candidate at the moment. It is unlikely we’d take a punt on someone else, even under the guidance of a Guus Hiddink type in the sporting director role.
Yes, thought it was the bookies/media influence to attract the Trevors of this World. Spot on with Zola – that would be a dream ticket for the Club! Keep them coming Anthony – only Martin Samuelsson seems to “see it” otherwise, whilst every one else is blowing bubbles.
I thought it was the most fair way of doing it, as I didn’t want to be leading anyone down a path, but didn’t expect anyone to vote for the ringers…as it stands O’Neill has more votes than Jose. Bizarre.
Mourinho is a self indulgent opportunist scum who has managed to con most gullible people as Maka infers, should he come back to Chelsea I for one and am not the only one would switch off from the game.
Makalele what is ur problem wit d master of d game? U nead to respect him cus his comin back to standford bridge next summer. Up mikel
Makalele should stop criticize the special one,
I Understand the point of makelele but he shouldn’t make it a public critic, Mourinho as has been known likes the to achieve most credit of anything he’s involved into, he left chelsea so People+Fans could see if anyone can do what he has done for chelsea, and yeah none did, from Avram Grant down to Scolari, none could win the title of Barclay, so he’s intention (Based on my own Opinion) is to show the fans and public that nobody could do what he did. He is a very good and proud coach and no doubt he’s the best. Mourinho made the company(Stamford Bridge) sick when he was leaving for no reason, but if i were Chelsea holders i would always welcome him but this time he cannot do any better, if u ask me ‘Why’ i would ask you to look into his current club is a great Change is in Madrid, he did well for Inter and Premier League will not be his successful place again.
He could be successful here again, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens.
As for Maka’s comments, he’s right, in a sense. Mourinho does enjoy the limelight, but in many ways it helps to take the heat off his players.
I’d still have a few concerns if he did return, but I would support him and hope he proves any criticisms wrong.