If success is what you want from Jose Mourinho, then success is what you’ll get from him. That’s why Manchester United have hired him. However, when it comes to Jose, there is always a bit of drama involved. One has to play by his rules only if they have any desire to survive, let alone succeed. The Portuguese may be one of the best managers in world football, but he has a long history of inducing feuds with fellow managers, referees, and players. Hell, he doesn’t even spare his own club doctors (read Eva Carneiro).
With Jose, there is always the good, the bad and the ugly attached to the game. He has never lasted at a club for more than three seasons and it is mostly due to him falling out with either the board or his own players. He was sacked by Chelsea last season following a ‘palpable discord’ with his players.
The demands Mourinho puts forward to his players is often too much for them to handle resulting in strained relationships with his own players. Most players who have played for him laud him for the immense character he portrays in the dressing room and the impeccable motivator he is. But for some others, he is the ‘Hated One’ rather than the ‘Special One.’
Also Read: Jose Mourinho hints at which players will leave Manchester United
We take a look 5 players who cannot see eye-to-eye with Jose Mourinho:
#1. Juan Mata
When Jose Mourinho was appointed the manager of Chelsea in 2013, the Portuguese was prompt in making it clear that there would be no automatic selections in his line-up. Impressed by Oscar in pre-season, he decided to build the team around him. Juan Mata was Chelsea’s best player the previous season and was a hero at Stamford Bridge, but Jose would not go with reputation when it came to football and criticised Mata on his adaptability and work ethic- two aspects which Jose highly regards.
Mata was sold five months later in January to Manchester United, having only played a bit-part role for Chelsea. After making his move to Old Trafford, Mata heavily responded to Mourinho’s criticism by saying: “If a luxury player is a player who scores and assists and has good stats, then I'm happy to be a luxury player.”
Mata went on to have a decent spell at Manchester United and Chelsea won the Premier League the following season. All’s well that ends well, right? Only that such things never happens. In 2016, the only player who was fearing a Jose Mourinho arrival at Old Trafford was Mata- someone who didn’t share the best of relationships with his former manager.
The bad blood between Jose and Mata continues at United presently. Recently, in the Community Shield Final against Leicester City, Juan was substituted as a substitute only 30 minutes after coming on. Though United managed to win the game, Mata was unimpressed as many see the move as a message to who’s boss. Only time will tell what the future of Mata is at Old Trafford which is becoming increasingly vulnerable.
Also Read: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho explains decision to substitute Juan Mata off
#2. Iker Casillas
The infamous feud between Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas and Jose Mourinho began when Marca leaked the starting line-up of Real Madrid ahead of their game against Barcelona in the 2010-2011 season. Casillas, who had a journalist girlfriend was the first to be suspected by Mourinho which started the saga of the ‘Madrid Mole’ at the Bernabeu.
The tension came to a head between the two in 2011-2012 when after a bitterly fought match against Barcelona involving Jose eye-poke to late Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova, Casillas made a phone call to Barcelona midfielder Xavi for reconciliation after the events on the pitch. It was seen as a betrayal of the highest order for the Portuguese manager who didn’t want his captain to raise the white flag against their bitter enemies.
Things went from bad to worse in their third season for Saint Iker as Mourinho dropped him for reserve goalkeeper Antonio Adan and eventually buying Diego Lopez after Casillas had contracted an injury to his hand. Casillas, according to Diego Torres in his biography The Special One, was seen by Mourinho as “a grass, a mole, a traitor and an egoist.”
Mourinho even went on to say, “While I’m the coach of Madrid, Diego Lopez will play.”
Casillas, too made his feelings known to the world when he said about Mourinho in 2015: ‘I never spoke publicly about him at the time and I don’t think I ever will.
'People know how it was. In the end, we just did not have a good relationship.’
#3. Andriy Shevchenko
Shevchenko found himself at the receiving end of unwanted criticism from Mourinho when the Ukranian was forcefully handed over to him by Roman Abramovich instead of his preferred striker.
Mourinho went on to say in public that Shevchenko did not fit into his plan which didn’t help with his motivation. Shevchenko wasn’t playing the best football of his career, but he wasn’t playing his worst either. Criticism of that sort would have naturally angered any player, and it did. Shevchenko retorted by saying that he was being used as a ‘dartboard’ and that the Portuguese wasn’t a great motivator.
The former Chelsea striker was quoted in The Mirror in 2007: "The manager never spoke to me or played me in a position where my strengths lie.
"He [Mourinho] is a tactical fox and has strict beliefs. But I've had better managers,” he added.
Though the feud seemed to have subsided after Jose’s departure from Chelsea, Jose, being Jose, rekindled it while at Inter when he compared Shevchenko to a Prince who had come to play at a Chelsea team where there was no prince but only fighters. In 2014, Sheva again attacked Jose, partially blaming him for his failure in England.
Shevchenko and Mourinho certainly don’t see eye to eye, but who knows how long it’s going to last.
#4. Pepe
Pepe’s relationship with Mourinho disintegrated towards the latter half of Jose’s three-year stay in Madrid. Pepe rushed to his captain Iker Casillas’ defence over the criticism made my Mourinho, and described the manager’s comments as ‘not adequate’ and that he should show Casillas more respect.
Pepe had been showing signs of vulnerability on the pitch and had lost his place to Raphael Varane. Varana, along with Sergio Ramos were regarded as the future of Madrid. To Pepe’s comments, Mourinho was quick to reply at a press conference: “"Pepe's comments? It is very easy to analyse what he says. Pepe has a problem and his name is Raphael Varane,"
"A 31-year-old has lost his place to a 19-year-old. It’s the law of life.”
That meant that Pepe had to simply keep quiet until the storm subsided (if it ever would).
When there was calm at Madrid after Mourinho had left, Pepe has repeatedly insisted that he doesn’t miss the Portuguese manager at the club and that the days of him at Madrid are over.
#5. William Gallas
William Gallas took it too far in 2006 when he refused to travel with Chelsea on their pre-season tour to the United States. An angry Mourinho had said that he was terribly upset and that Gallas showed a lack of respect to the Chelsea family.
Gallas had made his intention of leaving clear when he did not sign Chelsea a new contract with the club. However, Jose took his revenge for the ‘lack of respect to the club’ by handing new signing Michael Ballack the number 13 shirt which belonged to Gallas, making it imminent that Gallas would be shown the door soon.
However, after Gallas’s transfer to Arsenal, there was a parting shot from Jose which perhaps was the only time that Jose did not personally attack Gallas but through the club. A statement released by the club reeked of Jose and his displeasure with the French defender was clear. The statement began with: “Chelsea believes it is important for our supporters to be made aware of the full facts regarding William Gallas and the lack of respect he showed to the fans, the manager and the club.
"Despite leaving he continues to attack José Mourinho and this cannot be left unchallenged.”
There was also mention of the fact that Mourinho had faced several attacks from William which included the threat of scoring an own goal if he was forced to play for Chelsea.
Gallas went on to deny the own-goal threats and the tension with the Portuguese manager has subsided since. However, the bad blood which existed between them then is no denying.
