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Mourinho & LFC – A War in Waiting

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mou-rodgersIt’s coming. Slowly, but surely. We all know it. Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers are edging ever closer toward to the centre of Jose Mourinho’s cross hairs. Warning shots are already being fired. The full verbal arsenal is ready to be unleashed.

When Mourinho returned to England back in June, Liverpool were an afterthought. No one considered them title challengers. Why would they? The Reds had finished 7th last season. They wouldn’t pose a threat to Chelsea, who would be fighting with Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United for the Premier League crown. That was the conventional wisdom back then. Back then when Mourinho was trying to convince everyone that he was a changed man. More relaxed, less abrasive. Yeah, right.

After a surprisingly sedate first few months back in England, during which he somehow managed to avoid too much controversy, Mourinho discarded his disingenuous ‘Happy One’ guise and reverted to type. He went on the attack against his those who threatened his team’s chances of success.

First target: His old foe Arsene Wenger. Classless barbs flew in the direction of the Emirates about how the Frenchman was an ‘expert in failure’. Manuel Pellegrini got it in the neck too. Plenty of ‘mind games’ about ‘little horses’ and other such nonsense appeared in the press with the purpose of seeking a response and placing pressure on the one Manchester club still in the title hunt. The battle lines had been drawn.

When these assaults were taking place, Arsenal, City and Chelsea were the three teams that everyone was backing to go the distance in the race for the title. Now though, with just seven games remaining, Mourinho’s oldest and most detested English rivals are coming into focus.

They have not gone away. They have not faded as most thought they would. Every victory keeps them within touching distance of Chelsea. Within touching distance of Mourinho. Within touching distance of the Premier League trophy. The season is drawing to a close. It is only a matter of time before the insults and ‘mind games’ go up a notch from Jose and this time they will likely be fired at his bete noir; Liverpool Football Club. To say that there is history is between the two entities is an understatement.

Liverpool are the pimple on Mourinho’s perfect face. A permanent scar upon his person. A wound that has yet to fully heal. An enemy he has yet to vanquish. They are the one club that have harmed his C.V – his beloved, precious C.V – more than any other in this country.

Two European Cups denied. An F.A Cup triumph snatched away, too. Luis Garcia, Rafael Benitez, the ‘ghost goal’ and ‘the power of Anfield Road’ are things that Jose will take to his grave. He can’t let them go. His overall record against the Merseysiders may be impressive (8 wins and 5 defeats), but when it’s really mattered, Liverpool have always outdone the self anointed ‘Special One’ and punctured his ego. He would claim otherwise, of course he would, but he would be telling porkies.

When quizzed today on whether the Reds’ impressive season had surprised him, Mourinho simply repeated the line about Liverpool that he has stuck to all season long. ‘They have not had to play in Europe’. The implication is that Liverpool’s relative lack of fixtures is the main contributory factor to their success. There is some validity in those comments of course, but the absence of any praise or acknowledgement for a manager with whom he has worked closely and apparently has a good relationship with, speaks volumes. He will not be handing out any compliments to Brendan Rodgers until Liverpool are out of his line of fire.

Like Alex Ferguson before him, Jose Mourinho loves a loser and isn’t particularly fond of a winner. If you are no threat to him, you can expect praise and support. During his time as Real Madrid manager, he backed Rodgers to succeed at Liverpool and endorsed him as a top manager. The moment you challenge him? Well, better get your defences ready because an onslaught will materialise quickly. No more nice words for his mate Brendan. Not now.

Liverpool play Chelsea on April 27th. At Anfield. The grave of two of Mourinho’s European dreams. If Rodgers’ side are still within striking distance of the London club as that game draws close then you can bet that the venom towards Liverpool will really start flying in the press room at Cobham. Mourinho won’t be able to help himself.

Fingers are on triggers. Helmets at the ready everyone.

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11 comments

  • Ben says:

    didnt he say recently that if chelsea dont win it he hopes liverpool do because brendan rogers is his friend?

    • David Tyrer (Editor) says:

      He may have, Ben, but then again he also verbally abused a young kid today for holding onto a ball for too long so I think you can take whatever he says with a pinch of salt.

      If they’re still in with a shout at the end of the season there’s no way in hell he’ll be happy for Brendan Rodgers to win the league, especially not with Liverpool. There are very few class acts left in football management these days, but I think we’re lucky that we may well have one.

  • DagunD says:

    I was surprised to hear Mourinho saying they are now out of the title race! Can somebody actually loose what he doesn’t have? He has said it for the umpteenth time that they are not the favourites or they are the LITTLE HORSE!! Is this law of KARMA or RETRIBUTION? MIND GAME MY FOOT!!!!!!

  • Patrick says:

    I think in that same article Jose did praise Liverpool saying Liverpool are having a great season and have a great manager that gets the best out of his players. But his Liverpool not in Europe excuse is getting a little annoying. If Liverpool had the same size squad as Chelsea and all the talent Roman bought, playing Champions League and Premier League wouldn’t be a problem.

  • Ben says:

    “if you are no threat to him, you expect praise and support” – interesting how stan pulis said in his interview after palace’s win he thought mourinho showed some class when he into the palace dressing room and congratulated them hahaha…. totally agree that we have a class act in rogers

  • john52 says:

    I think Brendan should start using the “not in Europe” line to Red’s advantage, ie,” we’re fresh as we haven’t had European games”. – “They (Chelsea) will be, understandably, tired with the extra games and traveling”. Etc. Let Brendan put those thoughts into the opposition heads. That’s mind games.

  • Ynwared says:

    Good morning lfc fans my news conference
    At the start of the season there was some Liverpool doubters regarding BR saying the the club was to big for him and he should be sacked all I can say his them doubters need to go support man utd I always wrote on here that BR was the man and he would bring back the glory years just look at the beautiful football we playing the goals were scoring I salute you MR BRENDAN ROGERS
    Ps now for mourinho all he does his moan when his team don’t get decisions what about all the ones that he does get like when they played us eto’s straight red never happened two penalty shout’s never happened Oscar two footed challenge straight red never happened he (mourinho ) no mention when asked Suarez dived lol
    Mourinho his a whinging baby who needs his nappy changing lol
    Chelsea get more decision than any other team they are a bunch of cry babies

    YNWA Liverpool forever

  • Aaron says:

    Imagine the alternative universe where some fans on here … cough cough… @FSG Out, @StevieG, @Realist etc etc wanted new manager and owners.

    Lets say FSG did in fact sell up, mid-season and new owners replaced Brendan Rodgers with whoever they felt ideal… I wonder where we’d be….. RIGHT NOW???

    The actual reality is that we are not going bankrupt buying players we don’t need, youth is playing a significant part and presently we are 2-0 up against Spurs……sat proud, atop the Premier League.

    We sure are we glad some of you have zero influence with our club….. BOOYA.

    • Aaron says:

      Now it’s 4 – 0…..

      I think the words used to describe BR ‘apologists’ (lol) were… Deluded, Brainwashed, Clueless, among the nicer tones.

      Funny old game is football and football supporting.

  • Ezekiel Kparevfa says:

    What strength do we need? Trust the boys in the house and they will deliver at any level. Let’s not mind Mourinho in his mind games. A money backed manager for that matter.

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