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Friday, 12 March 2010 12:06

Real Madrid: Goodbye Pellegrini, Hello Mourinho?

Spanish giants set to target Portuguese coach

Manuel PellegriniJose MourinhoIn the wake of Real Madrid’s shock exit from the Champions League at the last-16 stage, the clamour for Jose Mourinho to take over at the Bernabeu is inexorably gathering pace. Ricardo Costa explains why.
 
While Jose Mourinho’s stock is back on the rise, Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Madrid crashed out of Championship League with a 2-1 aggregate defeat thanks to a late Miralem Pjanic stunner at the Bernabeu.
 
Real Madrid, who felt destined to win Europe’s top prize this year after the astounding €250 investment in their squad, shot themselves in the foot as the French club used skilful teamwork as their main weapon against Los Blancos. Lyon proved that money can’t buy trophies and that teamwork can thwart any super talent in the world (including Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka).
 

Dream duo

And many believe Real’s premature exit from the Champions League will only speed up Jose Mourinho’s switch to the Spanish capital, joining forces with Ronaldo in a mouth-watering dream move to Real Madrid.
 
Since the game, Real Madrid director Jorge Valdano has already alerted the Real Madrid supporters that the manager will not be sacked because of this week’s performance. But I sincerely doubt he will be around after this summer, especially if Barcelona progresses to the Champions League final. Why? Because this year’s final is at the Santiago Bernabeu! Barcelona winning a second consecutive Champions League trophy in the face of Florentino Perez in Real Madrid’s home, inevitably spells doom for Pellegrini.
 
The Chilean coach could even be axed before this possible nightmare scenario for Real unfolds. The club is now under immense pressure in the quest for the La Liga title. Mark you calendars for the match at the Bernabeu on April 11th against Barcelona, which will be fundamental for Pellegrini’s future in the club, if it’s not too late already.
 

What Mourinho brings to the table

Since teamwork is the overriding philosophy that any manager must uphold, I believe that only Pellegrini can be blamed for this graceless performance. The change of form from La Liga to the Champions League is very puzzling. Accordingly, I think Pellegrini lacks an attribute that Mourinho excels in and Real Madrid needs – Discipline. Mourinho would be the perfect manager to deal with the large egos in the club. I think the players need a manager they fear in order to get maximum results.
 
Needless to say, he would bring his tactical acumen and finely tuned motivational skills that would definitely spark the fire for Real Madrid in Europe. Inter Milan were not nearly so passionate in the Champions League until Mourinho’s arrival at the San Siro. Secondly, I think Mourinho’s defensive methods would be the missing link that Real Madrid needs. While their offence is something to be reckoned with, it is their defence that has let them down this season.
 
Reports have already appeared in Madrid’s Marca stating that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was in contact with Mourinho after their 1st leg defeat in Lyon. This crash out of the Champions League can only add fuel to the fire. You can rest assured that the mention of Mourinho in Madrid is slowly starting to take form in the minds of Real Madrid supporters.
 
by Ricardo Costa
 
Comments (9)
Paul you are whining bitch!!!
9 Sunday, 14 March 2010 15:17
John/Canada
First of all, Mourinho and CR are great buds.......and I am sure CR has no problem based on Mourinho's comments. If you knew anything about soccer, you would know that this is how he motivates players.....watch for CR to dominate WC 2010 as a result. Secondly, the so called rough spell of games you speak of with Inter are due to the fact he has been suspended from Managing the last 3 or so Serie A games. He comes back next week to regular duty. After disposing of Chelsea, he will once again easily extend his teams Serie A league lead and become repeat champ, plus he may still very well become not only CL champ but will likely win the Coppa Italia too for a treble. Then, at season's end, he will once again have his teams management kiss him where the sun don't shine, and leave not only with the players respect, but as the true champion and as the best manager available to be hired elsewhere.......I only hope it is for Liverpool or the seleccao.
Dan is useless
8 Saturday, 13 March 2010 23:12
paul/ usa
I know football Dan I played football and I follow football. Mourinho will be sacked by Inter at the end of the season if not sooner. He pulled the same shit at chelsea being alittle bitch complaining and whinning before Chelsea sacked him, he is doing the same exact thing at Inter at the moment with bad results to be sacked. If he carrys on playing he's little games their will be not major teams that will want him. I'm a Sporting and Portugal fan and ever since Mourinho disrespected our best and most expense player in the world, he lost all respect he's a whinning BITCH
Are you joking?
7 Saturday, 13 March 2010 12:06
Dan/EEEU
Paul (USA).....You're reinforcing the stereotype that no one in the US knows anything about futebol by suggesting that Mourinho would coach Porto again. That will NEVER EVER happen. Maybe in an alternate universe. I mean please!
Mourinho
6 Saturday, 13 March 2010 00:00
paul/usa
I like reading this comments, but nobody really knows that Mourinho will probley be sacked at Inter before the end of the seaon. Inter last tonight against and if AC Milan win Sunday evening they will be 1 point away. Inters last 6 games have been 5 draws and 1 lost in the league. Now does that sound like a coach for Madrid. This week in London Chelsea will come out on top and win leaving Mourinho bitching about the referee. The only place I see Mourinho after this season is back at Porto or maybe Portugal Quiroz is going to flop in South Africa.
Goodbye Pellegrini, Hello Rafa
5 Friday, 12 March 2010 22:27
Paul - London
Rafa Benitez will be going to Real Madrid, Roy Hodgson to Inter Milan and Jose Mourinho to Liverpool this is what you will see at the end of the season.
Rafa to take over "Galacticos"
4 Friday, 12 March 2010 22:24
Umberto/ Londres
Mourinho at Real? I cant see it, myself. Its not realistic.
I think that Pellegreni will leave Real in the summer and will be replaced almost certainly by Rafa Benitez (of Liverpool). He learnt his managerial game at Real, he is will liked and is respected by the capital club's directors and Rafa's place at Liverpool has become unteniable. The timing just seems right. Although i think given any choice over any prospective candidate, Real would choose Wenger in my opinion!
Mourinho won't leave Italy
3 Friday, 12 March 2010 21:32
Fresh/Canada
I don't think Mourinho is moving to Real Madrid anytime soon. Mourinho respects his contract even though he said he doesn't like Serie A or something between those lines. Mourinho likes to win every domestic title in Italy and he has already won a Scudetto and a Super Coppa and the only one he hasn't won is Coppa Italia and Mourinho has so much pride he won't rest until he gets it. Mourinho has successfully won the first leg in the semi's so he's very close to reaching his goal.
The era of nearly impossible expectations
2 Friday, 12 March 2010 18:23
Ivo/Canada
I wonder if speculation about Mourinho taking over at Real will carry as much weight behind it if Mourinho fails to deliver in the Champions League with Inter this season. There is a very real possibility that he will be knocked out in next week's second leg game against Chelsea. Granted, Real would undoubtedly love to win in the Champions League (what team wouldn't?), but the amount of pressure for them to do so will be tempered by the fact that a championship in la liga has eluded them as well. If Pellegrini can pull off a league championship, then Mourinho taking over would likely put more of the emphasis on Real winning the Champions League next season. And if he fails then, he's likely to be suceptible to similar criticisms and pressure that he is facing now in Milan. It's a tricky situation. Clubs have become very fickle with respect to support for their managers in recent years. Whereas in the past a manager might be allowed to acclimatize to his team over the course of a few seasons, any signs of weakness today are likely to lead to calls (followed by action) for replacing the manager. It doesn't really allow for a squad to gel with it's manager and to work collectively to overcome whatever setbacks the experience. Giving managers more time with a team will at least give them the opportunity to gain a nuanced and in depth understanding of what formations works best etc. Mind you, the amount of money spent in Real raises the expectation bar substantially, but Pellegrini is a world class coach that at the very least deserves the opportunity to turn things around; as do other managers in similar situations. In the long run it could be the more frutiful move for the team.The current mentality of axing a manager at the first sign of trouble is disheartening.
"Provoking the boy"
1 Friday, 12 March 2010 13:51
Steve / D.C.
I remember when Mourinho was at Chelsea and CR was at Man. United, and Mourinho called CR "ignorant" and said he "lacked an intelligent understanding of the world because he has no formal education to speak of." This prompted Sir Alex to call out Mourinho for "provoking the boy" and how Mourinho was out of line etc. I thought the whole thing was funny at the time (I love Mourinho's psychological games)... and now the two might be together at Real... oh wow: The "Special One" and the "Ignorant Uneducated One" together at last! Should be great!

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