Even though everyone in football – particularly those at Chelsea – should know better, Jose Mourinho is still the master of bait-and-switch. Mourinho is using Chelsea’s injury issues as chaff to distract from his 0-0 draw at Liverpool and his narrow win at Benfica.
Antonio Conte had enough on his mind Wednesday night. If he had been able to clear his thoughts for a moment he would have come up with a deflection – or even a verbal hard sliding tackle – against a question about Jose Mourinho’s latest passive-aggression. But with two more injuries capping off a disheartening draw at Stamford Bridge, Conte gave Mourinho exactly what he wanted.
Manchester United accidentally won 1-0 against Benfica. Until Benfica’s teenage goalkeeper made a ridiculous error to gift Marcus Rashford a goal, United seemed content to go 0-0 for the second straight game.
Knowing that he would likely face such accusations, with criticisms still coming in fast and harsh for the slumber party at Anfield, Jose Mourinho did the one thing he does better than play for a draw: petty mind-games.
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United’s fans will quickly point out, Jose Mourinho didn’t actually name names so what makes you think he was talking about you? Sensitive aren’t we, snowflake Chelsea fans?
Unfortunately, Antonio Conte took the bait.
"A lot of time Mourinho has to see what happens at Chelsea. A lot of time, also last season, I think he has to think about his team and stop, to look at himself, not the others. – BBC"
Had Conte not said anything, the chatter would still be about Mourinho’s comments. “Who did he mean? It had to be Chelsea. Is Conte avoiding the topic?” But since Conte snapped back, we are treated to the predictable “Feud! Clash! Battle!” Obviously, this will only get worse between now and November 5.
Mourinho created a win-win. Even if people are fact-checking his claim that he is not the sort of manager to “moan and cry like the others” (Narrator: He is.) they are still talking about something other than parking the bus for 90 minutes against Liverpool and a single goal against Benfica.
Jose Mourinho is used to defending his “pragmatic” style of play, and often has the record to back it up. Jurgen Klopp’s frustration should have been all the reward he needed after the weekend’s snoozer. But partly out of spite, partly out of habit and partly out of pre-game preparation for the clash in two weeks, Mourinho dragged Chelsea into it.
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Jose Mourinho has the luxury of considering a draw a victory. That’s what’s become of Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. Mourinho knows it is not the United way, and needs to shift the conversation before Old Trafford raises the heat around him.
Chelsea fans and ownership are not satisfied with such things, in part because they have lived through Mourinho twice. Antonio Conte has never in his life been satisfied with a draw, which is part of his appeal to Chelsea fans. Conte has no poker face, his passion is overwhelming and his despondency and concern at the draw was plainly obvious. Mourinho saw an opportunity and pounced on it.
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He is the Romelu Lukaku of annoying soundbites. Hopefully when Chelsea face the actual Lukaku in an actual game of football (assuming Mourinho permits such a thing to occur) the Blues can better defend it and take the higher road.