…A TALE OF THE
APPRENTICE AND THE MASTER GOING HEAD TO HEAD…
When Andre Villas Boas left the
Mourinho camp for pastures new four years ago, little did we know that he will
become one of the most respected football managers on the globe. Since forging
his own path, the now Tottenham manager has followed in the footsteps of his
mentor and teacher until he joined forces with Daniel Levy. Bad blood has
existed between him and the man who is largely responsible for turning him into
the astute tactician that he is today. We have often seen how partnerships and
relationships in football turn sour. SAF and Beckham immediately comes to mind.
There are many more like what has happened at Galatasaray in the last few days.
It goes to show that nothing lasts forever.
Pre-match pressers have been lively
and interesting and media gurus are enthused when a Mourinho comes to the press
room as he always has the pressmen literally eating from his hands. The
non-nonsense and very outspoken Portuguese managerial gem does not mince words.
It was AVB who fired the first couple of shots, saying Mourinho didn’t want him
to be too close to him and take his opinion and that since he left for
Academica, the once sweet and great friendship between the two has collapsed
and the damage is near irreparable. Football fans probably like what happens on
the pitch but some of these tantrum throwing makes everything a lot more
exciting. AVB is also very annoyed that Willian Borges was stolen right under
the canopy of Spurs. The Brazilian had a medical in North London but ended up
in West London as a player in one of the most bizarre transfers of all time.
The Chelsea hierarchy also failed to listen to Levy and Baldini regarding the
potential transfer of the maligned Juan Mata. The Modric situation has gone
unforgiven and the Europa League holders are determined to add more misery to a
Spurs side currently on a roll.
Mourinho has since hit back at AVB
for making their relationship status a public affair and went further to say he
doesn’t care what his compatriot and rival says or feels. He added that he is
no kid to start talking about a personal feud between him and a former pal. He
definitely likes doing the talking on the pitch and a nice victory at White
Hart Lane today isn’t far from his thoughts. The pensioners won a very
spectacular match there last season courtesy of a certain Mata. The man
Mourinho wants to change his playing style or remain a sub or spectator.
The lilywhites whitewashed Aston
Villa at Villa Park in midweek by four unreplied goals. Jermaine Defoe scored a
brace to take his all-time scoring feat to 139 for the club. Nacer Chadli and
Paulinho were the other scorers and the depth of the squad at AVB’s disposal is
frightening to put it mildly. Defoe, Holtby and Chadli may not start this afternoon
with the likes of Soldado, Sigurdsson, and Christian Eriksen taking their
place. Aaron Lennon is on the road to recovery and a new Gareth Bale has been
unearthed. Erik Lamela has as sweet a left foot as the departed winger and the
number 11 jersey fits him perfectly well.
Chelsea also defeated Swindon in
midweek and that was without a host of regulars. El Nino Torres and Ramires
scored for the Blues who lost Marco Van Ginkel to a long-term injury in that
encounter. A very bad situation for the young man who Jose so loves. They know
quite alright that Spurs are a different proposition and are aware that the
task ahead is herculean. Only Arsenal have defeated Spurs this term and the
hosts are yet to concede a goal at the Lane this season.
The last gasp victory in Wales was
greeted with joy and relief and Spurs it comfortably ahead of Chelsea in the
early table. They know it is an unfamiliar sight and they want to make the most
of it. The investments this summer is paying off and Vlad Chiriches made his
bow in the Capital One Cup demolition of Villa. Eriksen looks the real deal and
Sigurdsson is relishes the competition for places. Chelsea have won the last
two games after losing two before then and scored four goals without reply.
Mikel Obi even ended his 7 goal and 261 game drougth on a weekend where Rayo had
more possession than Barcelona and still lost 4-0, Aaron Ramsey hit the back of
the net for the 7th time this season and the famed Rio/Vidic pairing
was taken to the cleaners by Aguero and his gang of Blue moon ninjas. Jose
Mourinho has admitted that he is yet to find his main eleven and this
experiment might be tested to the limit by Spurs come tea time.
Roberto Soldado is yet to repay the
huge investment made on him. Two spot-kicks aside, he has been woeful by his
standards and should stand up and be counted. It is during the big games that
big players or so-called, come to the fore and duels don’t come bigger/fiercer
than Chelsea and Jose Mourinho.
Fireworks are expected on the pitch
today as always. It is off it that will be most anticipated as Mourinho the
Master and AVB the student go head to head in a match that is more than just a
match. The ‘SPECIAL ONE’ delivered a sound beating on his master, Luis Van Gaal
(now Holland manager) in the 2010 Champions League Final (Inter-Bayern Munich).
Who says a student cannot topple his teacher?
PROBABLE LINEUPS-
SPURS-
Lloris, Walker, Vertonghen, Dawson,
Rose, Dembele. Paulinho, Sigurdsson, Eriksen, Lamela/Townsend, Soldado
It is a straight fight between Andros
Townsend and Lamela for a slot in the starting lineup which Townsend is
currently winning. Lloris, Rose, Soldado and Sigurdsson will all return to the
eleven. Aaron Lennon returned to training yesterday and should make the bench.
CHELSEA-
Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Cole,
Ramires, Lampard, Oscar, Hazard, Schurrle, Eto’o
Knowing Jose very well, he must pick
at least nine of the above listed players for today’s contest. Juan Mata and
David Luiz haven’t satisfied him yet with their performances and should
continue on the subs bench with Oscar, Schurrle and Hazard coming in. The
Brazilian especially is Mou’s favourite player at the moment.
Who prevails? JM or AVB..It is left
to be seen.
Ohireime Eboreime
Twitter-@ohiskaka1990
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