Rome (AFP)
His dismissal from Tottenham two weeks ago tarnished his reputation as a "Special One", but José Mourinho is a tough one: the Portuguese coach has found a challenge that suits him with AS Roma, a club which, like he aspires to get up.
Provocative, megalomaniac, charismatic, arrogant, genius tactician with whom love usually does not last more than three years, Mourinho returns to conquered land.
He left Italy in 2010, after a historic treble (Championship-Cup-Champions League) at the head of Inter Milan.
Today, it is the Louve club that collects him, after his dismissal from Tottenham on April 19.
But Roma, currently seventh in Serie A with four days to go, do not enjoy the same prestige as the "Nerazzurri", who were crowned champions last weekend.
This says a lot about the career path of "Mou", double winner of the C1 (2004, 2010) but who has lost his magic, for lack of his patter.
"My methods and those of my staff are not surpassed by anyone in the world," he said at the end of February.
- Failure with Tottenham -
But in mid-April, Spurs decided to part ways with the Portuguese, who left empty-handed after 17 months in office, leaving the London club in seventh place in the Premier League.
Prototype of the dominant and confident technician, not hesitating to manhandle referees, opponents and even his own players in a press conference, Mourinho has built his career on this image of harshness.
Even the very placid Paul Pogba had opened up about it recently.
"There was a time when I had very good relations with Mourinho. It was obvious and then overnight everything changed. (...) This is what is weird with Mourinho and I will not know you explain why, because I myself did not understand, "he told Sky Sports in April.
In November 2019, however, it was towards him that the Spurs, then fourteenth in the league, with a workforce at the end of the cycle, from which Mauricio Pochettino could not get the best out.
A surprising choice, since he remained on 11 months of inactivity after a fishtail experience at Manchester United, despite a Europa League added to his list in 2018.
With this "machine to win titles", Tottenham hoped to finally fill its trophy cupboards, or even compete with Liverpool or both Manchester for the title.
The Portuguese assured upon his arrival that in his second season, he could aim for first place.
After leading Spurs from 14th to 6th qualifying place for the Europa League last season, and leading the standings at the very end of the fall, we thought the miracle would take place.
But physically worn out, perhaps also psychologically, Tottenham has withered away.
- Kicking man -
Eleven of his thirteen defeats in all competitions - a one-season record for a team led by Mourinho - were suffered after mid-December.
The climax was the sinking of the eighth-final second leg of the Europa League at Dinamo Zagreb, lost 3-0 in mid-March, by squandering the 2-0 of the first leg.
And in the Premier League, Tottenham's way too defensive attitude caused them to lose 20 points after leading in the scoring.
Each time, right in his boots, Mourinho criticized everything and anyone except him, a speech that ended up robbing part of the locker room, the supporters, and finally the management of the club.
The Portuguese has always been a man of "hits", quickly pulling the best of his team to lead them very high, before the effect wears off.
Criticized for his defensive game, and today his lack of results, Mourinho has revenge to take on the football world which prefers younger coaches ... Roma, too, runs behind its glorious history.
They have everything to get along ... But how long will the marriage last?
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