Jose Mourinho on replacing Claudio Ranieri as Chelsea manager: “I’ve never said that I’m a phenomenon but it’s certainly not my fault if in 2004, after arriving at Chelsea and having asked why they had got rid of Ranieri, they told me that they wanted to win and that would never have happened with him.” That’s why he’s so special.
We’ve written a bit about the issues facing Mario Balotelli in Italy. While many have been quick to direct blame squarely on the youngster, Francesco Totti’s actions yesterday went a long way towards showing the double standard that exists in Italian football when it comes to the treatment of its petulant football stars. For those who didn’t see the horrific incident near the end of the Copa Italia final, below is a clip of Totti’s attack on Balotelli. (more…)
Following Inter Milan’s 3-2 aggregate win over Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final at Camp Nou, Jose Mourinho said the following:
“This is the best loss of my life. It is a shame I couldn’t play: I would have been awful on the pitch but I would have shed blood as my players did”.
Judging by his classless romp around the football pitch, it is increasingly evident that Jose Mourinho suffers from an inferiority complex. I fully understand that the Special One’s teams thrive off of an ‘Us against the World’ mentality, however after the battle has been waged and won, it is imperative that the victors not needlessly shame the losers. (more…)
Give me liberty or give me Jose Mourinho. Mourinho’s success at Inter, thus far, and his mouth, lead me to believe that there has never been a better match for Real Madrid. Every year, Real Madrid looks to buy something new. Last year, it was Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo. Next year, let’s not be too surprised if their new toy is the self-anointed Special One. (more…)
It’s been reported that Mario Balotelli has requested a transfer following the incident at the end of the Inter Milan – Barcelona Champions League game at the San Siro. The situation is quite complex, but I must say that I feel for the young man. Inter fans refuse to cut him any slack. Granted he doesn’t help his cause with some of his petulant antics, but no player, especially one so young, deserves to be berated at every turn. (more…)
Someway, somehow, I get the feeling that ‘The Special One’ is behind the volcanic eruption in Iceland. Surely the man Barcelona fans derided as ‘the translator’, a reference to his time working at the club under former manager Bobby Robson, will stop at nothing to exact revenge. Due to the eruption, Barca has been given no choice but to travel 700 plus miles
(more…)
Professional football teams across Europe have been grounded and forced to rely on alternate means of transportation due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland. Barcelona has been forced to travel by bus (yes, bus) in order to make it in time to play the first leg of their tie with Inter Milan in the Champions League. Lyon may be forced to do the same for their tie with Bayern Munich if conditions don’t improve soon. I can only imagine what is going through the players’ minds. (more…)
Yesterday morning, the Moscow subway was rocked with two suicide bombings that claimed thirty-nine lives. Russian authorities suspect that the attacks were the work of Chechen rebels. Politics aside, our condolences go out to the families of those who were killed. In a display of solidarity, CSKA Moscow have asked UEFA for permission to wear black armbands during their Champions League tie with Inter Milan later today.
On the sidelines of yesterday’s Chelsea vs. Inter Milan match, Carlo Ancelotti looked like he was in the third hour of a four hour session on the fourth day of a physics conference. His face was dead. Expressionless. Emotionless. It was priceless. My sense is that Ancelotti would make a terrible mime.
The obvious angle here is that Ancelotti’s lack of emotion was passed on to his team. But Chelsea’s performance can hardly be said to have been emotionless. Chelsea certainly created chances on the night. There were a few calls that Chelsea fans will claim were clear penalties. Crazier assertions have been made. Penalties have been called for less. (more…)
If you love perms or Didier Drogba, you’ll love the Les Éléphants shirt …
Spain is trying to conquer the world again. This time, they might succeed.
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Commentary
Kenyan Prime Minister’s Action on Football Matters Raises Questions About Focus on Social Challenges
by Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq.
Kenyan international McDonald Mariga has secured a switch from Parma to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan side. Not surprisingly, Kenyans have been paying attention given that this is highest profile transfer for a Kenyan footballer in the modern era.
Hours before the close of the transfer window, Mariga was seemingly on his way to Manchester City. Kenya was excited, even though for most Kenyans he was going to the wrong team in Manchester. As in most African nations, the English Premier League is the big draw in Kenya, dwarfing the once storied Kenyan Premier League. The move not only resonated with average Kenyans, but it apparently also resonated at the highest levels of government. In order to engineer Mariga’s move to the Premier League, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga put on his cape and hit the phones. Raila became an all-action player — the type of player Arsenal desperately needs.
But it makes you wonder … is Raila inspired to move this quickly and aggressively on non-football related matters? (more…)
Commentary | Social Change
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