darrus

That he's forgotten about football more than this whole board combined ever knew - that's probably a fact But genius? Einstein is genius, Leonardo da Vinci is genius, football coach is just not on this scale. He is a good coach, a great coach even, won in 12 years more than others do in a lifetime, knows a lot about football - but then doesn't know a lot as well and makes mistakes just like others. Less mistakes, probably, but he still makes them.

No way. *That* sort of circus is impossible in any team but Real Madrid and let's hope it stands this way. Hazard just did a really stupid thing that went public, he'll think twice next time.

You're not watching La Liga, I take it? Because both Ronaldo and Messi are getting stick in situations when their lapses lead to goals, same as any other players. It's simple, really. If your defenders fuck up and you are the only one standing between the guy with the ball and a goal, you're not thinking "I'm an attacker, it's not my responsibility", you clear the ball.

Probably you have a point, but - he made Ronaldo a better player by making him work more for the team, he moved Ramos to central defence and got him to be one of the best at the position, got Snejder to play the best he ever did, got Deco who was by then by popular opinion unreliable and fading away when something didn't go right to perform consistently, got Ibra to work, got Benzema to work... I think his issue is more not with the players who are stars but with trying to implement his "team first" philosophy. There are bound to be players who can't cope with it.

You're failing at sarcasm because you just look at all the 4 teams in European cup finals this year and you see 4 teams where everyone has responsibilites, attacks, defends for 90 vinutes. Yes, even Ronaldo who is pressing his opponents when it is needed and does his work defending at set-pieces.

It was taken publik because Hazard made these comments. Mourinho was asked direct questions. Had he refused to comment, it would have been spun by the media just the same. He preferred to come clear and actually answer. It's ours to guess how many times Hazard has heard the same in private.

He also said that he is asked to do everything alone and all that blah-blah-blah which was the part Mourinho was answering too. About style of play comments Mourinho stated that they are taken out of context and there is nothing to say here. I am having issues with Hazard exactly with "I am alone" part which is a great thing to say about your teammates especially right after the match where Hazard was obviously too good to try and block the shot being the only player left between attacker and a goal.

Yes, he actually explained what he is trying to say and why he is saying it - which was good.

Actually that was the comment that made me seriously angry. If it wasn't misinterpreted it's a huge sign of - damn, don't know the English word, it's called "star-disease" here and needs to be sorted out or we may end up with our own Bojan Krkic.

Sorry, I'm just surprised by things I read here. It all reminds me of the story that happened recently at work. One of my collegues blatantly disregarded safety procedures and when students objected ordered them to "shut up or forget about passing exams". As a result five students were injured, two of them seriously. Know who was blamed by everyone after it happened? No, not the guy who didn't do his work, but his cheef who publicly admitted the incident and apologized to students and their parents. He endangered the reputation of university! That never should be done! That same logic is applied here. Hazard fucked up in a match - he's not to blame. Came up with comments that make the press laugh at our club for 3 days already - he's done well. But when the manager, answering a direct question, says that Hazard should clean up his act - he's damaging the reputation of the club. It's probably very easy to live in a society where you can do anything and never get criticized because pointing out that someone does something wrong is considered worse than doing your work badly. Though praising players doesn't work too. I remember Mourinho being called a deluded hypocrite when he talked about forwards doing everything for the team and called exactly same words when he said that his forwards are not good enough. Probably even by the same people

Finally. I wish he said it earlier. Hazard needs his attitude sorted out, and after the CL match and all these "poor me" comments especially. Mourinho seriously fucked up by not getting him back to Earth as soon as all this "I'm going to be as good as Ronaldo and Messi" started - now it looks like his habit of talking up his players at every opportunity has seriously backfired.

If anyone needs a laugh

Everyone knew it but you - till we sort out offensive part of our team we were always going to play from defense onward.

Interesting thought. And probably you are right. They're gonna look ridiculous banning Jose from matches - so they had to ban someone But really. Atletico's fitness coach for actually trying to hit a referee got 2 matches touchline ban. Sure different leagues, different rules, but 6 matches stadium ban is... We have someone in our stuff to lead the pre-match warmup instead of Rui, right?

Anyone knows if this guy has any sort of credibility? https://twitter.com/fizzyjacko That is some scary twitter rumors...

So there are rumors about Mourinho leaving on twitter. "Big news" hinted by Rob Beasley and others talking about him being fired. Think we'll soon find out how much truth in that.

People disregard the fact that spending a lot of money doesn't equal success. It's sort of Real Madrid or PSG logc "we buy all star players there are = we win every title", and the same teams are an example that it doesn't work. Yes, we have a squad that costs a lot. But what system of play were they bought for? At the start of the season we had 6 AMs and Lampard\Ramires pivot because there basically was no other option. Unbalanced squad that looks good on paper and in reality is a heap of expensive mechanical parts instead of fully functional car. By themselves all players are good, but when you start trying to stuck them in a system it doesn't quite fit. We've made steps to solve it in the winter transfer window, because after half a season current squad's limitations were already obvious. We'll solve the remaining problems in summer (the most glaring at least) and then we'll see what we get. I'm a bit puzzled. Rodgers spent the whole season building the team, finished outside of Europe, still can't sort out defensive problems and is praised as the best young manager. Pellegrini took the most expensive squad in England with players playing together for quite some time, crashed out of CL at first knock-out round, may end up with probably one minor cup - and is hailed as amazing manager. Wenger has won his last trophy when dinosaurs were still alive and is considered one of the best there is currently. Guardiola made the strongest team of Europe into poor man's Barca and "you can't judge a coach by one (2, 3, 10) bad match". Mourinho came to the team that was assembled by 3 managers in 2 years and for some different style of play, got to CL semis, still has outside chance at the title and he is a failure and laughing stock. He's made mistakes, of course, but really that's an overkill.

Sorry, but that is bullshit of the highest order. There are enough videos/reports from coaches present at open trainings/excersise schemes to contradict this statement.

If Moyes winning it this year counts, this one also should

Last season he won one, so no, this is first (also do we count 2007/2008?)

Also I don't pretend I understand anything about it but I've always got the impression if a keeper and defenders play a lot together they "feel" each other - like knowing without looking where Cech is going to move in this or that situation, when he needs help or when he can be relied on to sort everything out by himself, this sort of thing. But still I have nothing to criticize Schwarzer for. He's done well every time he was in. Even in this Sunderland goal - he made mistake not catching the ball, but the defense left him absolutely alone so part of the blame is on them.

Realistically - we overachieved being even this far. But still it hurts. I selfishly wanted us to win if only just to avoid all this. Horrible team, overrated manager, has-beens, pretenders, failures etc., now this will be a narrative till the end of next season. I have no clue where to hide from it... How you deal with such things? I think I need advice. We will be better. We will be stronger. We will sort the team out. But right now the better team won. As much as it hurts to admit. Azpi MOTM and maybe player of the year. Hazard should have his attitude sorted out. Whole team needs it, think of it. They just let their heads drop when the 2nd goal went in. We'll survive it. But... damn.

That hurts. Now Atletico is going to stand with 10 men in their box and I'm not sure we have it in ourselves to score. Damn. Hoping for some serious magic from someone there.

All this talk about 6 defenders threw me a bit - I almost forgot Luiz is considered a defender too, seems like he's playing in midfield since like forever

Just saw stats - Torres scored 6 in his last 6 starts in Europe, is it true? I. Am. Scared. Trust Jose to go all experimental lineup in probably the biggest game of the season. Oh God...