For José Mourinho, Karma Continues to Rule the Day

For all his brilliance and entertainment, the ‘Special One’ has a vile side. Half genius, half jerk, José is a character indeed.

He didn’t find class in Antonio Conte’s antics against Manchester United. After all, it was a wild celebration that put José Mourinho on the map. In 2004, when his Porto scored an injury time winner, Mourinho sprinted down the touchline at Old Trafford as he celebrated the goal against Alex Ferguson’s team. Since then he has not looked back. How poetic is it that a celebration highlights the worst day of his career?

His new team was thrashed by his old. Manchester United were swept aside by Chelsea on Mourinho’s first visit to Stamford Bridge since his dismissal last year. José was ‘humiliated’. It was a night the Special One would like to forget. Right after the match, when he shook Antonio Conte’s hand he spoke at length to the Chelsea manager. He gave the Italian a piece of his mind. The conversation was picked up by the microphone.

It’s just my opinion, but don’t do that at 4–0. You can at 1–0, but at 4–0 it’s humiliation

He was referring to the Italian’s touchline antics. Neither Mourinho nor Conte has confirmed this till now. Conte said he wanted the rather subdued Chelsea supporters to make some noise and cheer his team for their best performance under him. May be true. And he has the right to do so.

The fact is Mourinho lost and he simply couldn’t digest it. Period.

Mourinho is wholesome entertainment. His accent, jokes, one liners and nonchalance run parallel with his hatred, negativity and arrogance. José Mourinho is a notorious character. There have been many instances where he has felt a bitter taste in many mouths. So the humiliation at the Bridge is karma hunting him down.

The Kop

In 2013–14, it was Mourinho’s Chelsea that shattered Liverpool’s title dream. He knew that anything but a victory would be detrimental to Liverpool. His team were up by a goal and an injury time second doomed Liverpool’s shot at glory. As Willian struck the goal Anfield was muted. Mourinho then ran down the touch line screaming and rubbing it in the face of the Kop. I suppose it was revenge against the Reds for dumping his Chelsea out of the Champions League in 2005 and 06. But his antics were vile. There was no reason for such a wild celebration. After all, his Chelsea were already out of the title race and the result was inconsequential to where his team would finish. José simply wanted to ‘humiliate’ the Kop.

Paul Lambert & The Handshake

In 2014, his Chelsea were 3–0 up against Aston Villa. Mourinho went on to shake Villa manger Paul Lambert’s hand before the final whistle. The latter refused to acknowledge the Portuguese’s gesture. So did his assistant Roy Keane. It was utter disregard towards a fellow manager. Mourinho’s defence was that he wanted to inform his wife and son he had won the match. When asked if he would go it again, he gave a cold yes. Perhaps he did want to inform them. But it was his arrogance in defending himself and saying he would do it again that shows the jerk in him. And it was not the right thing to do. That’s how you ‘humiliate’ a colleague.

Eva Carneiro

We all know what happened. It was the start to Mourinho’s spectacular destruction at Chelsea last year. Carneiro along with physiotherapist Jon Fearn went onto the pitch to treat Eden Hazard after twice being summoned by the referee. This meant the club were left with nine men after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had already been sent off. Jose went ballistic.

A visibly angry Mourinho publicly berated Carneiro and clenched his firsts at her. The world was watching. Carneiro was humiliated for doing her job. That’s just one way to humiliate a woman, for Jose has many up his sleeve.

Mr. & Mrs. Benitez

Montse Benitez, the wife of Rafa Benitez who coached three of Mourinho’s prevoius clubs had once made a light hearted comment about Mourinho. She said her husband has had to “tidy up his (Mourinho’s) messes”.

José being José took a swipe. A rather dirty swipe.

I think she needs to occupy her time, and if she takes care of her husband’s diet, she will have less time to speak about me.

Mourinho had crossed the line. It was a pathetic personal attack. Not only did he body shame a fellow manager but he also implied that the woman(Montse) should spent her time in the kitchen. It was tasteless.

Now Mourinho couldn’t take down humiliation. He felt Conte’s antics in asking the crowd to raise their voice and cheer at 4–0 was humiliating to a fellow manager.

José Mourinho has gone to war with his players. He has gone to war against rivals. He was gone to war against the press. The ‘Special One' has no doubt left a trail of success across Europe. While none discredits his achievements, it is hard to forgive Mourinho for exhibiting a hostile image. Half genius, half jerk, José is a character indeed.

What goes around, comes around. Karma is a bitch indeed.