On The Mou-ve? Let's Hope Not

With the Champions League final less than 48 hours away the eyes are focused on Bayern Munich and Inter Milan. And the Bernabeu. And who might be the resident manager there next season, who also happens to be leading a team into the big game on Saturday. The story has circled over and over for months now and to anyone who is even remotely interested in football the reasons why Jose Mourinho makes sense as the next Real Madrid manager are evident. Since I am an Inter fan and independently of that have a strong dislike for Real Madrid and a strange affinity for The Special One (even from before he came to the San Siro) here are some reasons to hope he does not bolt for the dark side (I don't care if they wear white):

1. Too many fingers in the pot. Real Madrid is a universe of its own, and anyone who has ever managed there can attest to that. Mourinho, like those before him, would have to deal with several internal interests pushing their views on him. This is something you deal with if you are Manolo Pellegrini making the step up from Villarreal. If you are Jose Mourinho, an obsessive control freak with an elite resume, maybe it is not your thing.

2. Jorge Valdano. Mourinho and Valdano's hatred for each other is well known. It is not just a clash of strong personalities but a different view of the game. The fact that it got personal makes this a stumbling block, in my opinion. It would be simpler if Valdano were just a generic "adviser" in the upper ranks of the organization, but considering he was a legend at the club as both player and manager it wont be easy to push him aside to make Mourinho happy. Real Madrid are a club that place premium value on their icons and he is among the biggest of his generation. Raul even named his first son after him.

3. Style. Jose Mourinho cares about winning first, second, and third. There is nothing else. Sometimes his teams score lots of goals, sometimes they don't. Sometimes he parks the bus and cements it in place, other times he goes away to a tough ground up a goal and starts three strikers. His only philosophy is winning. Real Madrid are, and always have been, obsessed with playing a pretty and attacking style. This has always been a demand on their manager and players and with Barcelona playing the epitome of champagne football and using it to win titles, this will be an utmost priority at the Bernabeu. And to those who believe winning cures all ills consider the managers who have brought home trophies and lost their jobs at Real Madrid for lacking flair. Fabio Capello, Bernd Schuster, even Vicente del Bosque.

4. A shot at history. If Saturday turns out like I think and hope it will Mourinho will have a shot at (even more) glory if he stays at Inter. Because Inter are going for a treble Mourinho would be in a position to capture three more titles before the end of 2010. Spanish and European Supercups and the Club World Cup. Only Pep Guardiola has done it as a manager and The Special One would be the first to do so with an Italian club.


I know the most likely scenario is that the final is Mourinho's last game in charge of Inter but the points listed above have some substance to them.