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Jose Mourinho might just be the Special One. And it is not just because of
the fact that his side are 10 points clear in the Premiership and still
in all three Cup competitions in late January.
Simply, Mourinho is proving to be the mind game master. Accusing Alex
Ferguson of influencing the referee during last Wednesday's Carling Cup
stalemate at Stamford Bridge was a masterstroke that the Manchester United
boss even admired. Usually a cool customer after matches, Mourinho went
off on one. Twice.
He didn't seem too angry. So it is very unlikely he was venting spleen.
The reason he made the comments is triple fold.
One: It will make referees paranoid over appearing to show an anti-Chelsea
bias in future with their decision making - even if totally unintentional,
or indeed correct.
Two: It will make referees aware that at least one manager has perceived
favouri tism towards Manchester United, and make them less likely to give
50-50 decisions in favour of the Old Trafford side.
Three: In the second leg, the referee will be overly aware of Mourinho's
comments and will attempt to be even-handed. However, he will naturally be
more likelyto err on the side of Chelsea.
Ferguson knew straight away what the comments would do and was forced into
a direct response, claiming: "He's trying to influence the referee for the
game with Spurs." Never mind the second leg. And, of course, as a complete
coincidence, Chelsea were helped on their way at White Hart Lane thanks to
a dubious penalty decision. 1-0 Chelsea, 1-0 Mourinho.
Make your point, reap the rewards, defuse the situation. If there are 'no
mind games' between Mourinho and Ferguson, it is because Mourinho has
already won. Interestingly, Arsene Wenger and Mourinho have not really come
head-to-head - but as Wenger's Arsenal stumble over their own lines, it is
United who are on a fantastic run in the league and the team now likely
to be there should Chelsea hit the bad patch of lore. Hence Ferguson is
Mourinho's target.
A bigger victory - in fact the biggest victory - for the Chelsea boss is
the war between Wenger and Ferguson. Jose must kick back in his Stamford
Bridge office with his training file and bottle of 'Cava del Jose' and have
a good giggle at the prepubescent antics of Wenger and Ferguson. The Battle
of Old Trafford II -This Time It's A Food Fight... ruined Arsenal's season.
They have been totally unable to regain their composure and winning ways
since then - and appear to have lost heart. The continuing Fergie feud
is now distracting Wenger from his real job of re-motivating his team -
and ultimately himself.
Ferguson knows this. In fact, he could never have dreamt how large the
impact of his comments and the Old Trafford fiasco could have been on
Arsenal. Wenger has, for the first time in English football, lost it. He
can't focus on the job in hand, he can't focus his team. That is how you
lose it. Now compare this to the Wenger of 2002. After Arsenal won the
Double in 2002, Ferguson raged: "They are scrappers who rely on belligerence -
we are the better team." Wenger's reply? "Everyone thinks they have the
prettiest wife at home." Touche, as they say in France.
This time around, Wenger promised not to answer questions on Ferguson after
the United boss labelled Arsenal as the 'worst losers of all time'. The
Highbury chief then went on to launch two more tirades within 24 hours -
one on French television - against Ferguson. Wenger has lost self-control.
It is clear he did not want to comment on Ferguson - but was drawn in twice
more into criticising him. Meanwhile, United have closed the gap to one point
on the Gunners. Isn't it clear who the winners are?
But more accurately, the winners are Chelsea. 10 points clear, no ongoing
feuds, and four competitions to try to win. Whether Mourinho is actually
laughing at his two rivals is unknown. In a way he should be, but with
Arsenal and United so far off the pace, the Wenger-Ferguson tumult is the
mere sideshow of the championship race, which Chelsea are threatening to win
at a canter.
Even Ferguson and Wenger's joint chorus of 'Chelsea won't be used to the
pressure of trying to win the title' must be something of a joke for
Mourinho - there is only one story keeping his side out of the headlines and
away from the focus of the media spotlight...
by Billy Leahy
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