Jose Mourinho: Modern Day Abolitionist

By: Bob | August 28th, 2006

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has almost done the impossible. He has almost made us sympathetic towards France coach Raymond Domenech. Almost.

Mourinho has snuck his nose into the dispute between his midfielder Claude Makelele and the coach who led France to the World Cup final. Makelele has announced his retirement from international football. Domenech is refusing to pay attention to this announcement and has recalled Makelele for his country’s Euro 2008 qualifiers next week. He has also threatened Makelele with a punishment that would include missing a couple of Chelsea matches if he doesn’t suit up for Les Bleus. Enter Mourinho:

“Makelele is not a football player – Makelele is a slave,” Mourinho said. “He’s played the biggest game you can, the World Cup final, and now wants to retire but the coach told us if he is not playing for France, he is not playing for Chelsea.”

“We know the rules. You are a slave, you have no human rights.”

Politically incorrect? Yes. Incorrect? Not entirely.

Mourinho does make a valid point, albeit in his typically over-the-top fashion. It is absurd that Makelele does not have a say in the matter and it is absurd that Domenech is choosing to ignore a time honored tradition of allowing players to retire from international football. The guy has given a lot to his country and, honestly, if France needs him to qualify for Euro 2008 than its future is not likely to be so bright.

The only one who comes out looking the least bit sane is Makelele, who has agreed to suit up once again for France and who has rightly described the Chelsea coach’s comments as “a bit too strong.”

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Category: English Premier League, World Football

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Pedro P

Mourinho snuck his nose...? :-)

Makele wanted out playing for France - like others. Domenech was very clear in his comments about Makele - he was willing to completelly go over the player's will, in a dictatorial attitude I never saw before in world football.

Naturally Mourinho, like any other team coach, would like to have Makele just for himslef. There was actually also a verbal deal between Makele and Mourinho, or Chelsea.

So what...? Didn't do anything wrong, did he? The one I see here not really behaving properly is Domenech. But it's not my country... ;-) Of course any National Team's coach wants the best players and disputes with club coaches are very frequent (if you want to see proper fights, or "word-war", although less caught by the media, you should check out Scolari vs FC Porto president).

But what's all this with threatening the player with the law, like he is nothing more than a lazy idiot who's never done anything for his country, like he isn't "simply" one of the best players, for France or in the world...? Is this normal?

Hence, the comment produced by Mourinho. To which I subscrive, and no, I don't think he went too far this time (the fact he could have chosen to keep his mouth shut, doesn't mean per se he went too far). If he went too far, then what about Domenech, who simply met Mourinho to rub in his nose that the law was in his side, and should he so wish, he could literally force Makele to play, OR he also wouldn't play for Chelsea (as if this was between himself and Mourinho, and not about him not being able to handle diplomatically one of his own best players).

The fact all this came public, is for me only another piece of "food for thought"... ;-)

One way or the other, Makelele ended up deciding to play for France. Anyway... :-)
Trent

This is exactly why I never played international football. Just when you think you're out...they pull you back in.
Luis

Domenech is a dumbass. Mourinho may be a bit over the top, but it only illustrates how stupid the entire affair is. At least Mourinho's comments are entertaining. Domenech is just plain petty. Any bets on whether he'll make it to Euro2008 as French head coach?
BlueBlood58

Just goes to show what an ignorant so and so Domenech is. Domenech was even at Chelsea's training ground last week to have the situation explained to him and was given confirmation of Maka's International retirement.

Classic Jose at his best!!
COME ON CHELSEA!
Will

Equating slavery with a player who gets paid to represent his country. That is Mourinho at his best.