UEFA Super Cup: Moan-rinho shows his old self

UEFA Super Cup: Moan-rinho shows his old self

So much for the elder statesman. Since returning to English football, Jose Mourinho has worked hard to push the idea that he is calmer and more rational now, that the fireworks of yesteryear have been consigned to the past.

It didn't last long. After losing the European Super Cup to Bayern Munich on penalties, the Portuguese boss let rip at Uefa, effectively implying a grand conspiracy against his teams. This is the side of Mourinho that we rather hoped had gone away.

It was all such a shame because this had been one of the great European games of the decade so far, an epic encounter that swung backwards and forwards, culminating in penalties and the calamitous failure of poor, likeable Romelu Lukaku.

In a shoot-out of the highest quality, it was the young Belgian who fell short at the critical moment. As he stood in horror contemplating what he had done, David Luiz ran to console him. This defeat was not his fault and he may end up a better player for the experience.

Chelsea had started the game well, sitting deep, allowing Bayern Munich to run at them and then striking back with astonishing pace.

Fernando Torres opened the scoring with a magnificent effort after a blistering run from Eden Hazard.

Bayern's strength, one of them at least, last season was that they were so strong in the centre of the pitch. Javi Martinez and Bastian Schweinsteiger were as strong a midfield pairing as you could find in Europe.

But with the German injured and the Basque craftsman on the bench, it was down to Toni Kroos and an out-of-position Philipp Lahm to fill the void.

There have been growing suspicions of late that in attempting to change this team's style of play, Bayern boss Pep Guardiola has, to all intents and purposes, turned up at the Sistine Chapel with a paintbrush asking if he can tidy the ceiling up a bit.

Bayern were the best side in Europe last season, dynamic, physical and skilful. Now the former Barcelona manager is trying to convert them into something even more attractive, sacrificing a defensive midfielder to offer more offensively.

It will, of course, take time before we know if it will work or not but there were times in the first half when the strategy looked unwise. Fortunately, they improved after the break, striking back through Franck Ribery and forcing a stream of saves from Petr Cech.

Mourinho was furious about the second-half dismissal of Ramires, suggesting that the referee had a duty to keep all 22 men on the pitch in a final. This is a ridiculous point of view. Officials are not there to ensure entertainment, they are there to ensure that both teams abide by the laws. Ramires made contact with the ball, but he did so by sprinting into Mario Goetze, his raised boot crashing into the German's shins.

It could have caused serious injury and could easily have been punished with a straight red. Against all expectations, Chelsea took the lead in extra-time when Eden Hazard's scuffed shot was

completely misjudged by Manuel Neuer. That signalled the start of the retreat as Mourinho's men bunkered down.

Guardiola, significantly, had rested a host of key players at the weekend. Mourinho, up against Manchester United, had not.

The Germans equalised with the last kick of the match and then, to complete the mirror image of the 2012 Champions League final, sealed the game in a shoot-out.

For Guardiola, this is a significant result. It is not so much that he has won a trophy, it is more than he didn't lose one.

Questions will continue to be asked about the wisdom of his aesthetic overhaul, but now he has an emphatic answer. The Bavarian revolution will be fascinating to watch.

For Mourinho, you sense that this was a missed opportunity. Having played well with 10 men, there was a chance to simply declare his pride in his team and then move on with grace and dignity.

Instead, in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, he announced that the best team had lost and then renewed his war with Uefa.

Forget about that elder statesman guff. Mourinho hasn't changed at all.


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