Back in 2005 I went to watch Manchester United play Chelsea at Old Trafford. Chelsea had won the league the year before and were looking like doing it again. They were 40 games unbeaten and had raised the Premier League bar.
I also actually enjoyed watching them play. Damien Duff and Arjen Robben were two left footed wingers on the same team, it was unorthodox but very effective and a joy to watch. Anyway, with all this in mind I wasn't too certain of seeing United get a result.
The atmosphere in the stadium that day was amazing. Deafening boos everytime Chelsea were in possession and "sit down Mourinho" rang out everytime the Chelsea manager got a bit animated. The Old Trafford crowd,despite the critiscism they often come in for,really can be the twelfth man in the big games.
Darren Fletcher scored a lucky goal in the first half and United spent pretty much the rest of the game clinging on but it didn't matter. The win was an act of defiance: it set United out as Chelsea's closest rivals.
Amid all the celebration and happiness of that day there is one thing that has always stuck in my mind. As Mourinho walked along the touchline in front of me towards the tunnel he turned and applauded all four sides of the home crowd.
He also spoke in a post match interview about the influence of the crowd on the game that day. A very humble gesture indeed from the "Special One".
Today's Must Reads
Now for me this caused a big problem because I could never really hate Jose as much as I wanted to. The mutual respect he and Sir Alex share, his charisma in press conferences, and who can forget his fingers on lips gesture to Liverpool supporters (as well as his lack of respect for the Merseysiders in general), stopped him from being the hate figure I truly desired for United's closest current rivals.
Big Phil Scolari I'm hoping though will be a different story altogether.
This is a man who tells referees he'll "see them outside after the game." A man who during a Euro 2008 qualifier with Portugal gave a Serbian player a left hook! Most importantly, a man who seems to have upset Sir Alex already.
Sir Alex has been quoted as saying that Scolari was the only international manager with a player at United that he didn't speak to (two years since they last spoke!).
Carlos Quieroz, who we can pretty much presume reflects Sir Alex's thoughts, said, "Scolari behaves like one of those people who you lend your car to when it has a full tank of gas and they use it all week, crash it and then leave it on a side street with no gas and aren't even polite enough to tell you where they left it."
Scolari has also played a part in the whole Ronaldo-to-Madrid affair. Ronaldo is quoted as saying that Scolari advised him to go to Madrid. Scolari has since denied this, and although Ronaldo has managed to add the trophy for the most untrustworthy person in football to his collection this summer, I see no reason why he would lie about this.
This among other things is probably what caused Sir Alex to start rattling Big Phil's cage earlier this week.
His first shot across Chelsea's bow this season went like this: "Mourinho won the title two years in a row and beat us in the FA Cup final so there is no-one who can improve on his record really.
"It's hard to see where there is going to be a big improvement on a team that's really experienced. 'Plateau' is maybe not the word to describe the team, but how can they accelerate beyond what they've done up to now?"
I've been waiting for this clash of the titans since Scolari was announced as Chelsea's new manager. Britain's greatest manager vs a Brazilian World Cup winner; so, imagine my disappointment when I read Scolari's reply "I will not answer this question. This question is not for me."
I really hope Scolari is saving the mind games for the business end of the season. My feeling is Sir Alex and Scolari have a mutual lack of respect for each other and I hope to god I'm right.
If they start sharing bottles of wine and patting each other on the back I might even start missing Arsene Wenger.
comments (18) write a comment »
write a new comment
about 1 month ago
Throughout history Brazilian coaches have always had little to say about others or even commented before matches.
Humiliating on the pitch is more their style.
When Big Phil is done putting together a whole new Chelsea then Alex `no world titles` Furgwhoever will get his on the field of play.
The fact that he and others are talking is a sign that they are already wetting their pants.
from about 1 month ago
I hope your wrong I've heard he's got a temper and sir alex is going to be playing those mind games all season.The jurys still out on scolari for me.I could have won the world cup with that brazil side.As for Sir alex having no world titles be fair its not his fault he's scottish.
about 1 month ago
Well if we’re going down that route then I guess it’s also Felipe “no European titles” Scolari…
Besides Ferguson technically won the “world title” of the Intercontinental Cup in 1999 against none other than Senhor Scolari.
I think that the mutual respect will be there, at least I hope so – there’s already too much hate in the world and we can do without any more really. Respect between the managers should lead to improved player behaviour too.
about 1 month ago
World Titles include European teams.
Intercontinental was a one off match not recognised by FIFA.
Mr. Furg has a date with the real FIFA Club World Cup soon however.
He could yet win his first `recognised` title of any worth.
from about 1 month ago
Your right Sir Alex's whole career has been building up to play Ldu Quito,Waitakere United and Pachuca.Yeah Right! should be a nice run out for the youth team.
from about 1 month ago
Just cant believe what I just read here. I have no axe to grind with either party and hope each manager gives as good as he gets but, what the hell does "He could yet win his first 'recognised' title of any worth" mean? You don't consider the Champions League a recognised title? Not to mention writing off the Premier League title.
Winning a World Cup/ European Championship/ Copa America as a manager, proves very little! It takes 6 or 7 games and the tema usually picks itself.
Surely you can only win a World/European title with a national team. Seeing as though his only international experience came about 20 years ago with Scotland, it's a bit harsh doing Ferguson a disservice because of it.
I know you are incredibly (and blinkeredly) biased towards Brazillian/South American football but by saying stuff like this, it's hard to take you seriously.
from about 1 month ago
And the FIFA World Club Cup is only two matches (for European and South American teams) and it is recognised by FIFA. And this makes it “real” compared to the Intercontinental Cup how exactly?
What other FIFA recognised titles are there in Club football? Too bad he’s only won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup Winners Cup, UEFA Super Cup…
from about 1 month ago
Yeah...to scared to send the real team. Cristiano was a shitter in the Euro 08.
LDU is just as good as any Euro team. They beat big clubs to get there and deserve recognition even if I myself know little about them...other than they are winners.
Libertadores is just as tough a tourney as Champs League.
Anyway ....all this talk is exactly the kind of blab I`d not like to really get into. In a few weeks we`ll see if Phil and the Russian can pull in some strong players and unload the overrated Bollocks and company.
Then I`ll be writing all the Manu people here (and there are mucho) and gloat gloat laugh laugh all the way it will be.
from about 1 month ago
If Scolari is not the best then why was your national loser squad after him?
Have anything to do with the fact that England has NEVER beaten Brazil in any kind of recognized tournament match in ALL HISTORY?
So have some respect for a Brazilian coach who`s there to TEACH you football.
When`s the last time you remember you English Team beating Brazil in tournament match ...ask your dad if he remembers...or your grandad maybe.
What makes you feel that your football is somehow better......you`re struggling to get to par my friends.
You suck in other words.
from about 1 month ago
Maybe Scolaria just couldn't get Cristiano to play like Ferguson can get him to play... After all isn't that how you judge a manager, Ferguson got the best out of Ronaldo, played him in the correct positions, as for Scolari...well...
Of course Libertadores is as tough a competition, no-one ever said otherwise. But in South America you may view this as a mere qualifier for the FIFA WCC but you must accept that it's different in Europe. People want to win the CL for the trophy and prestige, and then probably the money, probably the fourth reason and a very low priority is the opportunity to play in the FIFA WCC.
And yes England have never beaten Brazil in a competitive match...but that is only three matches after all. Of course Brazil are the best but even they are not perfect, after all at least England won at home in 1966, whereas as for 1950...well *everyone* in Brazil remembers that story. 2014 has been a long time to wait for another chance so let's hope they take it.
But at least England actually play their matches in England, it seems that Brazil (or Nike...) want to play all of their matches in London too!! When was the last time they played a friendly in front of their own fans???
from about 1 month ago
Only three matches in a PIG`S EYE!
Or an Englishman`s imagination.
World Cup 21/06/2002 Brazil 2 x 1 England
Tournoi de France 10/06/1997 Brazil 1 x 0 England
Umbro Cup 11/06/1995 Brazil 3 x 1 England
Stanley Rous 19/05/1987 Brazil 1 x 1 England..... Yipeeee they got another draw folks!
Bicentenário Cup(USA) 23/05/1976 Brazil 1 x 0 England
World Cup 07/06/1970 Brazil 1 x 0 England
Nation`s Cup 30/05/1964 Brazil 5 x 1 England
World Cup 10/06/1962 Brazil 3 x 1 England
World Cup 11/06/1958 Brazil 0 x 0 England....a draw for the Brits.
Yup ...pretty much our whipping boys.
Say thank god you got a coach who might teach you how to play now......stare at those years neigh DECADES of defeat and rethink your football`s worth.
from about 1 month ago
And Hey....if NIKE and the WORLD will PAY to see us play ...then we must oblige.
I can watch South American World Cup qualifiers if I want to see the national squad at the highest level of the sport in the toughest tournament on earth.
about 1 month ago
Don't get me started on what Sir Alex has accomplished. NO ONE, especially Scolari, can compare with his achievements!!
from about 1 month ago
If Scolari is no good then why did your national squad ask him to coach them?
from about 1 month ago
Because they asked Ferguson first and he already said no!
about 1 month ago
S I'm not going to reply to all your comments because it will never end.Your obviously INSANE!
from about 1 month ago
Yeah and you guys are all SANE.......sorry for my misrepresentations and silly statistics.......let`s get back to the truth:
English football is the best. British coaches are the best. Foreigners coach the English side cause the excellent British coaches are too busy with the clubs.
The clubs by the way are the best in the world. The EPL is the greatest. English clubs do not care about the FIFA club world cup ...cause FIFA and that tourney do not matter.
Oh...yes and Cristiano is the best ever no one has ever achieved all that he has. Brazilian lads all have pictures of him in their rooms and dream about one day playing in and if god graces us winning something in the EPL.
Manchester United is the best club on the planet. They do not play against South American clubs cause they do not wish to hurt their feelings and make people quit football there.
...and Champs League is the height of football. World Cup is another silly FIFA thing just like that Club thing they have.
That better?
from about 1 month ago
You seem to think I care about the england team.I'm from Manchester I don't support teams from London.
write a new comment