Growing unpopularity a Real problem for Mourinho

SOCCER ANGLES:The Portuguese coach's reputation is in the balance, which, given his achievements, is an indictment of his ability to generate enemies, writes MICHAEL WALKER

THE CULT of the manager, in which columns likes this are complicit, should have taken a few blows this week, in fact over the past 10 days. Jose Mourinho is viewed as the ultimate cult leader of the last decade, his arrival anywhere seemingly a guarantee of silver days ahead.

But there has been a run on silver at Real Madrid and Mourinho’s index rating has slid. Then again, stocks can go down as well as up. So we’re told.

From the man himself came the comment on Thursday that life, as he organises it at Real, would be “better in the second year”.

Many may doubt Mourinho as a force for good in football, but few would doubt his words about next season at Real Madrid.

Firstly, it does appear he will be at the Bernabeu then. There has been some debate, due to a combination of the off-field acrimony stirred by the quartet of Clasicos that have dominated the past three weeks and the style of play that Mourinho has brought to them, whether he would be.

Real Madrid are arguably the most powerful football institution in the world yet it is as if Mourinho has been intent on making them underdogs, Spain’s Millwall: ‘No-one likes us, we don’t care’. This has made us scrutinise Real in a manner his predecessor Manuel Pellegrini did not.

It means that “most powerful football institution in the world” claim requires qualification.

Not just because Barcelona, Manchester United and Juventus might have something to say about it, but also because of the massive financial borrowing risk Real sit upon.

There is, moreover, recent European history. Real are, famously, the most decorated club in the European Cup, nine times winners – compared to Barca’s three titles, for example.

But Real’s last win was in 2002 and six of the previous eight were won between 1956 and 1966. Just in case anyone did not notice, Real Madrid went 32 years from 1966 without winning the European Cup.

This is not to denigrate Real. As one of their former minors, Rafa, would say: “These are the facts”.

Their modest successes of late – this season’s Copa del Rey was their first domestic trophy in three years – was the reason Mourinho was lured to Madrid last June.

Mourinho and Madrid, star upon star, cult upon cult. What was there not to fear? And their first season together in Spain cannot be described as a disaster. To repeat, there was that Copa del Rey victory and the fact it was against Barcelona made it special as well as significant to the club and their manager.

This was a sign that almighty Barca could on occasion be overcome. It is Mourinho’s greatest task because if he can beat Pep Guardiola’s team, he can bring back the La Liga title and the European Cup to the Bernabeu.

If, as he promises, the second year will be better, then next season should be equally absorbing.

In Mourinho’s second season at Inter Milan, they won a treble that included the European Cup and Serie A title.

He may have inherited some of the squad but Wesley Sneijder was added by Mourinho; it was the manager who got Inter to play with such cohesion. The man’s record is startling and any club acquiring Mourinho as their next manager would be thrilled at the prospect of transformation.

Well, any club, bar a few. Two of these are about to compete in the Champions League final. How would Mourinho go down at United or Barcelona as their next manager after the past fortnight? Not as well as a month ago.

Even within Real Madrid there has been dissension and unease. For the first time locals can recall, a manager’s name has been sung at the Bernabeu with sincerity and regularity. The cult of Mourinho has been bought like the cult of the Galactico was previously.

It was about the Galactico in the dugout. It has been restated again this week that Mourinho’s attraction of attention away from his players is somehow strategic – the alleviation of pressure – as if he doesn’t like the limelight. The “strategy” means it is all about the manager.

But because of the scale of Real Madrid, this is a gamble and some don’t like the man demanding all the cards.

Grumblings about style can mushroom if results stall. Real go to Seville tonight for a testing game they must win if they are to maintain any kind of pressure upon Barcelona.

A messy end to their league season would increase the number of questions about Mourinho’s suitability for the club in a way that never happened in Italy. He was suited to Inter.

Even if Mourinho rides those out and receives summer backing in the transfer market, those questions will persist.

His supporters query the criticism that his football is limited by pointing to the goals for column, but Real scored 102 in La Liga last season. They are 21 short of that total with four games to play.

Then there’s the “loutishness”, as Ottmar Hitzfeld had it this week. There are those at Real who perceive themselves differently.

It all means Jose Mourinho’s reputation is in the balance, which given his achievements, is an indictment of his ability to generate enemies.

Those seeking a managerial cult to follow, and they inhabit boardrooms as well as the stands, will be glancing elsewhere while keeping tabs on Mourinho. They’ll note afresh Alex Ferguson, the cool Pep Guardiola, maybe even Paul Lambert. He’s from that Glasgwegian tribe, isn’t he?

He could be one to follow.

Sporting Alonso a cut above his peers

XABI ALONSO is a personal favourite, as a footballer and as an individual.

On Tuesday night in the Nou Camp, when the television pictures cut away to the adverts at the final whistle, I was fortunate to be high among the press seats observing the immediate fall-out.

Real Madrid players, ordered by Mourinho's number two, Aitor Karanka, went to their small band of travelling fans to acknowledge their presence. Then they trooped off one by one straight down the tunnel.

Not Alonso. He went over to shake as many Barcelona players' hands as he could. Then he shook the hand of the referee, Frank De Bleeckere, one of those supposed enemies of Mourinho.

Alonso would later have his little moan about Uefa's alleged bias but it quickly stopped.

But for Andres Iniesta's brilliant pass to Pedro for the opener, Alonso was responsible for the pass of the night.

He also made the greatest gesture. How did Liverpool ever let Alonso (below shaking hands with Barcelona's Gerard Pique), go from their team and dressingroom?