Monday 10 November 2008

Mourinho storms out after Mancini debate

Inter coach Jose Mourinho stormed out of a post-match interview when asked about the comparison between his team and that of predecessor Roberto Mancini.

Jose MourinhoThe Portugueese coach was visibly irritated in the final minutes of the 1-0 victory over Udinese on Sunday, as when Julio Cruz bundled in the stoppage-time winner, he turned to the disgruntled fans behind him and put his finger to his lips, telling them to shut up.

"It was aimed at one of my former players, Costinha, who was in the stands," Mourinho joked. "I was telling him to be quiet because he was calling me constantly."


In Saturday's pre-match press conference, Mourinho commented that when compared to Mancini's first season in charge of the Nerazzurri, his side was actually doing better in terms of points.

"If we want to make a fair and honest comparison, then we should place my team side by side with Roberto's first season," he said on Saturday. "Someone told me he had 14 points after 10 rounds, whereas we have 21, that is seven more than Mancini."

However, when asked on Sky Sport Italia's Calcio Show about that same issue post-match yesterday afternoon by analyst Mario Sconcerti, the former Porto and Chelsea tactician became enraged and accused Sconcerti of speaking for a friend.

"I know that you, Mr Sconcerti, are friends with Mancini and this is why you ask me these questions," he snapped.

When Sconcerti insisted he was a friend of all the Serie A coaches, the self- proclaimed 'Special One' would not hear of it.

"You are not my friend, you are a journalist. If you invited me to dinner then I would not attend."

Mourinho then moved on to Rai Due's Stadio Sprint, where his interview was even angrier - insisting "it's not true" when told he was the one who had raised the issue of a comparison with Mancini.

During the exchange with presenter Enrico Varriale and analyst Bruno Gentili on the state broadcaster,
Mourinho took off his earpiece and stormed out halfway through the debate - "ciao... arrivederci".

This episode is just the latest of several moments of controversy Mourinho, in his short time in Italy so far, has found himself involved in.

Back in pre-season he
launched a stinging attack on Juventus counterpart Claudio Ranieri and then a month into the season, he was involved in another personal spat with the Sporting Director of Catania, Pietro Lo Monaco.

Source: C4 Football Italia

No comments:

Post a Comment