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“What is there in my life that would be worth making a movie about?”
José Mourinho reflected on that question once during his first season at Chelsea when the Premier League was under his spell. “The only thing they could do with me is a DVD of about an hour with the titles I have won, the best images, the biggest controversies.”
There have been many ups and downs in the decade and a half since that statement, but Mourinho is back at the top. Nine games in the Premier League season and Spurs lead the rest. After ending Chelsea’s 50-year wait to be England champion, he now threatens to lead Tottenham to the title for the first time in 60 years.
Mourinho’s seasoned observers have long been convinced that the Portuguese sees his whole life in cinemascope. It helps explain why he took the documentary about his first season at Spurs so easily. Well now it has a narrative worthy of its name. After being dismissed as the man from yesterday, could it really be the time for Joseph’s song of redemption?
Ambient music is certainly changing. “I think it will increase the more José sits near the top of the league and feels like he’s competing with Pep,” Gary Neville said. Sky sports.
He was referring to the rivalry that Mourinho stoked before his team’s game against Manchester City, hinting that Pep Guardiola’s team could have benefited from favorable treatment during the international break due to the withdrawal of Raheem Sterling from the England team. “Maybe Mourinho is a doctor,” Guardiola wondered.
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Even Sterling’s omission from City’s starting lineup wasn’t enough to stop Mourinho’s turmoil. Another taunt came in the pre-game interview, delivered with a satisfied smile.
He may see himself as center stage once again, but Mourinho has always seemed happier in the underdog role. From there, it’s easier to cultivate the siege mentality you thrive on, selling the idea to your side that they are fighting against the odds and the system.
But Mourinho has found himself so overwhelmed in recent years that his role has been peripheral: observing from the studio just over a year ago how others chased cutlery.
His complaints during the later stages of his Manchester United career could be seen as a lament for a career that went wrong. This is the longest time he has not won a trophy.
But there is a growing sense that the mischief comes from a position of strength once again. Mourinho returns to the discussion. He’s still the underdog, but this dog is in the fight.
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José Mourinho says he doesn’t give much credit to the FIFA Best awards
As has happened?
Tottenham were in the lower half of the Premier League and on a five-game winless streak when Mourinho arrived last November. The fear was that it was a tired team that had gone as far as it could with Mauricio Pochettino. The cycle had come to an end.
Those fears are gone. Four straight Premier League wins to extend Spurs’ unbeaten streak in the competition to eight games – the longest of any team – have renewed confidence. There seems to be everything to play for again. Tottenham is in this race for the title.
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It took time and money to turn it around. Gareth Bale and Sergio Reguilon have arrived from Real Madrid and the latter has made a quick impact on the left side. The hugely impressive Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has been excellent, providing much-needed stability in midfield.
But the most striking change with Mourinho has been in the performances of the key players already at the club. Heung-Min Son is the top scorer in the Premier League. Harry Kane has become even more complete than before. Tanguy Ndombele has turned it around.
The assimilation of Ndombele, Tottenham’s record signing, is a great achievement for Mourinho because if he hadn’t been able to make this work, it would have been interpreted as further proof that his particular men’s management style was no longer working.
His trial-by-fire methods had become obsolete, seemingly no longer resonant with the modern gamer. Despite all the talk about a new Mourinho, and that he has hired a younger squad, it was suspected that he could not reinvent himself. The die was cast.
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On the field, the game had moved away from its more reactive style of soccer. Pushing was not only an integral part of the success of the best teams in the country, it had become the norm.
The irony is that it is not so much that Mourinho has changed but that the game has changed again. Wait long enough and things will be back in fashion. In this case, circumstances may have conspired to shift the balance of power in Mourinho’s favor.
Fitness is a problem in these tough times. Teams are tired and fluid attack moves are harder to perfect. Pushing is proving more difficult to sustain amid a congested match list devoid of the intensity provided by a howling crowd. This is an environment where the contain and counter strategy makes the most sense. Mourinho is the master of that game.
Consider some of the underlying numbers. Manchester City and Liverpool, the Premier League’s most prominent teams in recent years, still lead the way in high turnovers that end with shots. They are still the teams trying to win the ball in the last third.
As a result, City and Liverpool are still starting their attacks closer to the rival goal than any other team in the league. The Spurs rank in the bottom half on both metrics. It’s not that Mourinho is suddenly playing his game. He is making his own game work.
Perhaps it has even helped that the Spurs’ difficult schedule has brought greater clarity that this was the approach to follow. They have sat when appropriate, being outscored in seven of their nine games so far. But when the time has come to strike, they have.
Counter-attacks in the form of a rapier have exposed opponents. High lines have been violated. Spurs are ninth in possession, but they have won every game, and won well, when the opposition has had more ball. No Premier League team has had so many direct attacks.
There will still be complications and there is no guarantee that this will last. Toby Alderweireld’s injury places even more demands on a team already being tested by a grueling schedule that saw Spurs in action again against Ludogorets on Thursday night.
Still, it is tempting to think that Mourinho is in the best position to capitalize on the uncertainty provided by the backdrop to this entire season. While Guardiola favors order, who better than the man who thrives on conflict to navigate a path through these treacherous waters?
This extraordinary season demands an extraordinary story. As he prepares for the cameras on his return to Stamford Bridge this Sunday, José Mourinho could provide it.
Pitch-to-post preview: Chelsea and Spurs title contenders? Plus Manchester United ‘leader’ Bruno Fernandes, Arsenal’s creativity woes and more!
This week in the Pitch to Post Preview Podcast, Peter smith is joined by Michael Bridge Y Charlotte Marsh to look forward to a highly successful London derby among title contenders Chelsea Y Tottenham. James cooper Explains how Bruno fernandes has become Man Utd’s leader, and we analyze From Arsenal creativity problems.
More, Tim thornton has the latest of Leeds Y Sheffield United – including the story of how the Blades almost signed Diego Maradona! Charlotte then makes her bold Tone from what you think will happen in this weekend’s Premier League action …
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