This was a drama of violence and beauty, played on and off the pitch.
The machine-gunned post-match allegations that scattered from the Mourinho’s mouth were not just the latest in an enduring campaign of assault on FC Barcelona’s integrity; it was a rallying call for hooligans.
This is a man that from his days at Chelsea has dismissed every victory against him by Barca as the result of play acting and weak refereeing. But last night Mourinho’s surpassed himself by questioning Barca’s achievements under Pep Guardiola and implying that it’s all been part of a big fix by UEFA.
While in free-flow in alleging his conspiracy, Mourinho seemed unable to produce any proof other than alluding to questionable circumstantial evidence obscured by subjectivity. Thus we are meant to believe that the German referee came out into the Bernabeu with the deliberate intent of penalising Real Madrid, that Pep Guardiola’s pre-match talk was focused on telling his players to dive and protest and pick a fight at half-time, and that UEFA somehow wants FC Barcelona in the Champions League final and not Real Madrid, because their players are sponsored by UNICEF and Qatar.
The point is that whether what Mourinho says is true or not is not really the issue. He says what he says as a tactic to divert and destabilise. On and off the pitch Mourinho’s is football’s agent provocateur– he plants seeds of insidious rumour and incites his players to play rough, as a matter of style.
He was loved at Chelsea, and is similarly admired by many Real Madrid fans, for Mourinho’s personifies aspects of their culture and that of Spanish national football of times past when the aggression of La Furia was much admired. In Spain, it has taken him less that a season to confront and undermine the harmony, dignity, and respect achieved in Spanish football thanks to Vicente del Bosque, coming dangerously close instead to provoking gang warfare among players of two great clubs. Last night Mourinho greeted each flare-up with a sardonic smile, as if things had gone to plan. He also claimed that Pepe’s sending off after his foot-up challenge on Alves-reminiscent of de Jong’s un red-carded kick on Alonso in the World Cup final- was unjustified.
Mourinho is a nasty winner and an even nastier loser. His arrogance denies him the ability to admit to his own shortcomings as a human being and tactician. This contrasted with Guardiola’s refusal to be provoked, and to see to it that his players persevere through the distracting sideshows, to produce football played at its most creative and noble-even if we saw only flashes of it last night. FC Barcelona’s overwhelming possession of the ball for much of the game was a testimony to its patient endeavour as much to the negativity implicit in Mourinho’s fortification.
True, Messi’s goals came after Real Madrid were down to ten men. But both goals were sublime moments, epitomising between them Guardiola’s real achievement at Barca – his own enduring nobility, and faith that football at its best is poetry in motion. Thanks to Messi, there was also magic. And Barca have been there before, not because of any fix, but because of their talent.
Beautifully observed Jimmy.
Mourinho is absolutely correct is suspecting favouritism from the authorities. The facts just confirm his accusation. Look just how easy Barcelona have had it in the Champions, season after season. So many games where the opposition have just had 10 men, and the scandal of Stamford Bridge is still seen by many as one of the most outrageous fixes in the game!
2005 Chelsea Drogba sent off Barça win
2006 Chelsea Del Horno sent off Barça win
2006 Arsenal Lehmann, sent off Barça win Final
2009 Chelsea 3penalties ignored Progress to Final
2010 Milan Milito sent off Barça fail inspite
2011 Arsenal Van Persie sent off Barça win
2011 Madrid Pepe sent off Barça in Final
Two other points which Cules ignore:
– Cry Babies (Adebayor spot on!): the “fair play” of the Cule players is a non existant. Reeling on the ground, demanding cards, falling as if pole axed when replies show that nothing happened. They are just TALENTED CHEATS! Dani Alves, Busquets, Pedro and co should be banned for bringing the game into disrepute. An absolute disgrace. But that’s how Barça progress: get players booked or sent off and let the ref do the rest.
– Negative tactics: Peps negativity yesterday was there for all to see. Control the ball in your own half and wait. Pass after pass, horizontal, no desire to win, just play for 0-0. Just 2 shots on goal from Barça in the first half. I think its motre of a crime to football having 70% possession and just 2 shots! I do know what is more boring, not having the ball or having the ball. Result a boring game, changed by an appalling decision, which allowed Barcelona the freedom to score. A wonder goal? Well any forward could do that against 10 tired players in minute 88.
As Mourinho said, any fair minded Cule should start to begin to wonder after so much evidence, why they have it so easy, season after season in the Champions………
Carlos -You are nothing if not predictable I am not sure if you are a product or a pale image of Mourinho. I rest my case although I know you like to provoke.
All this talk of a fix ignores the multitude of decisions that have actually gone against Barça in the very same ties. Several decisions at San Siro and the Emirates, a penalty not given in the 1st leg against Chelsea and blues players not carded, Puyol suspended for that 2nd leg, Abidal sent off when Anelka tripped himself up…the list goes on. We can’t deny that Barça have benefitted on occasion from the balance of refereeing errors, but last season we were on the wrong end. That’s football and that’s life. There’s no conspiracy, just the usual random injustices that are part and parcel of the game we love.
Jimmy, what a compliment – compared to the most successful manager in the world!
Seriously, I would like a Cule one day to actually respond to my points, how about starting today? Can anyone answer my “provocative” points?
– Barça player attitudes: is trying to get the opposition sent off agreeable to you as a Cule? Do you like seeing your players reeling on the ground when nothing actually happened? is that what you call fairplay in Catalunia?
– Ref decisions leaning towrds Barça: don’t you think you have had more than your fair share of “luck” and that playing against 10 men in so many key Champions games has been a great help? (and I am not talking about the last 4 games against Real madrid where again you played against 10 men)
– 70% possession: would you not agree that holding onto the ball in your own half and not even attempting to attack is just as negative as not trying to win possession, as happened last night? I mean passing it between your back 4 clocks up passes completed, but does that statistic not hide how excruciatingly boring it is watching barcelona play that way? Pure negativity.
Thats just 3 small but poignant points, any Cule out there ready for a debate?
I think Dani Alves and Busquets do make the most of any tackles agsinst them, but most team can’t see any other way to stop them. Madrid got away with it in the Copa del Rey. If they don’t foul, they don’t get cards ! This time we had a strong ref.
Barça are just the better team.
Mr carlos is a sore loser just like mourinho.
When barca last won the champions league, did man utd get any player sent off?? no
When marcelo DIVED in the penalty area in the last league meeting AND awarded a penalty, was that fair?? No
don’t you think mourinho applies the same type of tactic at all the clubs he’s at and maybe that’s why, because of their aggressiveness towards barca players, they get sent off?
ok so barca has sergio busquets who in my opinion needs to learn how to act if your going to play dirty. i don’t believe in that kind of football but then again if madrid can do it and get away with it then a balance is definitely needed.
Carlos Oppe you are a sore loser and you lack the kahunas to show even a little sportsmanship.
Barcelona’s tactics last night if you have ever noticed was to withstand pressure from a very aggressive madrid team. its main focus was to frustrate and it did so beautifully well.
And please don’t deny messi of any credit, that goal was such a classic and it wasn’t like he came on as a sub in the final third of the game. He was as tired as the SIX defenders that were instructed to mark him. Seven if you include the goalkeeper.
Please Mr Carlos, just acknowledge it Madrid lost and that’s the end of that round. They have to pick themselves up and get ready for the next match.
In your own words I quote “Am looking forward to Round 4 of the Madrid / Barça marathon…………!! Are you???”
The outcome was so predictable and UEFA have again have been caught out in their blatant unethical support of Barcelona no matter what it takes and in this case it was Wolfgang Stark he allowed himself to be surrounded and outwitted (instructed no doubt by UEFA) . He is considered a bad referee in Germany and in 2007 he was questioned for his performance overseeing the Chile—Argentina match in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, having “lost control of the match early” and for issuing seven yellows (out of nine) and two reds against the Chilean team during the match, in total he issued 53 fouls, 30 of which he charged to Chile. Following the match Stark and his colleagues were surrounded by livid Chilean players who were restrained by members of the police, Stark then had to be escorted off of the pitch and into the dressing room tunnel by police officers for fear that he would be attacked by the crowd and/or Chilean players at the stadium. In March 2010, he was in charge of the Inter/Chelsea game and after the game the England defender claimed Stark made the experience even worse by turning his back on him when he tried to discuss events in the game. At the time Terry said: “It was a bad performance by us but a really bad performance from the referee. “I’m not going to say the word conspiracy. I am not using that term, but I’m so frustrated by what happened. “Florent Malouda got fouled inside the box in the first half and the referee waved play on. Didier Drogba gets manhandled and if the referee misses it, we have the linesman. “When a decision didn’t go our way I, as captain, went to speak to the referee and he turned his back on me.
Stark has now done the treble as he will again be the centre of attention for his terrible referring – thanks UEFA
Jimmy If you don’t mind I have shared on my FCB supporters groups at Linkedin, I couldn’t think of a better way to express it.
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=1107787&trk=anet_ug_hm
Thats fine Ignacio but I would prefer you and others posting their comments on this website. Its democratic and open to opposing views and they will not be blicked as long as they are relevant, dont become repetitive or abusive (please note Carlos and other Chelseas fans)
Interesting Chelsea Ed….. from your detailed account it does seem that UEFA have referees that seem to decide which way games go.
I think Mourinho’s list yesterday backs this up: Ovrebo, Busacca, Frisk, Stark. Whether there is a conspiracy from UEFA who try to ensure that a show piece final takes place, with their favourite team taking part, or simply that refs buy into the myth of Barcelona and blatently veer towards punishing the opposition, one may never know…all one does know is that Barcelona seem to do very well in the Champions with help others do not seem to get.
Last Saturday I was invited to the Chelsea-Tottenham football match in London. English players are frankly speaking more honest on their behaviour, no acting at all, more respect to the referee, more fair play between supporters etc. Let say’s a more polite way facing this sport.
The barca attitude of his football players was deplorable by any means. But you also can find this in other Spanish teams. The defence of Jose Mouriño was very understandable after this kind of robbery done all the time. Real Madrid is fighting not only against the opposite team but also against UEFA Referees Platini and all this kind of people that you do not want to see in a table.
Rafa Jordana
la actuacion del arbitro ayer lamentable una vez mas.
Ya lo dijo Mouriño da igual que marquemos antes o despues al final nos echaran los arbitros.
El barca no debe tener la conciencia muy tranquila (si es que tiene conciencia alguna)Por juego no nos superan en la cancha y solo lo saben hacer en los despachos.
Rafa
Pues no te extañe que a Mouriño este viernes la UEFA se lo cargue.
Se volverá Londres seguramente donde hay fair Play y otra manera de entender el juego.
Dicho esto en el Madrid las cosas desde hace tiempo chirrían…
Analisis:
Poco después del gol de Pedro -puro contragolpe- hubo un plano televisivo de Valdano, Zidane, Pardeza y Butragueño, a los que llamo los cuatro jinetes del apocalipsis, con unas caras que no que hablaban por sí solas: ”Hay que acabar con Mourinho”. No hace falta. Mourinho ya es un cadáver balompédico en este país. Se le hizo un inmenso cadalso desde el principio. Tiene una prensa agresiva, implacable contra su personalidad. Antes era como Capello, un ángel negro del fútbol. Luego pasó a ser, simplemente, un borde, un prepotente, un científico de la soberbia.
Ahora, es Caín. Ha asesinado a Abel, al fútbol español, a la cursilería del fútbol azulgrana y debe ser arrojado fuera del paraíso, como expulsaron a su padre y a su madre. Mourinho está condenado por el pecado original. Francamente, yo me iba ipso facto de esta farsa quijotesca celtibérica, ahora mismo. No aguantaba ni un minuto más de tanta falacia, de tanto tercermundismo, que sólo criminaliza el talento. Es un síndrome de este país. Es insoportable tratar de salvar tu personalidad cuando casi todo el mundo desprecia tus ideas y la envidia es la terca reaccionaria de un sólo sistema, el juego del Barcelona. Todo lo que no sea jugar como el Barcelona es sacrilegio, anatema, perversidad.
Seguro que Mou no quiso jugar así este último partido, pero es que había que jugar al ataque. ¿Qué es el ataque en el fútbol? ¿Pillar un contragolpe como el de Pedro? El lance de Pepe es la clave. Es el estigma de una organización futbolística como la UEFA, que roza la mafia, donde los cargos son endogámicos, donde si se levantara la veda de la investigación más somera, el escándalo sería funambulesco. Pero es que no puedes ir ni a los tribunales ordinarios, porque te expulsan de una organización reaccionaria, tan vieja como la dictadura del proletariado. El arbitraje del belga, una vez más, fue sibilino, asqueroso. Los pequeños detalles delatan el fraude. Piqué hace falta a Ronaldo, se cae al suelo y Mascherano se tira como si el luso le hubiera matado, porque comprueba cómo Higuaín se ha quedado sólo y marca. El belga pita falta de Ronaldo.
Pero es que lo rocambolesco y más gracioso son los resultados. El resumen de estos cuatro partidos, con el maravilloso, el inigualable Barça, arroja dos empates- uno de ellos con uno menos en el Madrid-, una victoria blanca -le dio un título- y una derrota, la del minuto 60, la expulsión injusta. En resumen, en los números, el Barça no ha podido con el asqueroso juego, el desmán del fútbol de Mourinho ni con la ayuda de la obsoleta y mezquina UEFA.
Hey very interesting blog!