Behind the bust-ups

Jose Mourinho Vs Andy Johnson 19th Dec 2006

EVERTON are ready to take Jose Mourinho to court unless the Chelsea boss withdraws his accusation of diving against Everton striker Andy Johnson.
Everton plan to lodge official protests with the Premier League over Mourinho's claim that Johnson 'should be embarrassed' by his behaviour during the champions' 3-2 victory.
Mourinho, showing about as much class as an alley-cat, waved an imaginary card when Johnson fell in the penalty area under a clumsy challenge by Khalid Boulahrouz and later claimed: 'I think he should be embarrassed. A great player, but too much of that (diving).'
He also called England international Johnson 'a dangerous kind of opponent', adding: 'You cannot trust him.'
Johnson replied yesterday: 'The incident highlighted by Mr Mourinho was badly misinterpreted by him. I did not dive. I merely jumped out of the way of Chelsea's goalkeeper as he came out at my feet.
'I was not trying to get a penalty. I do not consider myself to be a diver. I have to say I feel greatly disappointed that my integrity as a footballer has been unfairly questioned in this way. I hope the Chelsea manager will retract his statement.'
Club sources claim that the long-term career of the Everton striker could be tarnished if such comments were not challenged as strongly as possible.
TV replays supported Everton claims that Johnson was pushed and manager David Moyes, reacting to Mourinho's subsequent protest, said: 'He probably overdid that and made things worse.'
Everton and Anthony McFarlane from Base Soccer — Johnson's representatives — issued a joint statement: 'To publicly question the integrity of a player of Andrew's professionalism and honesty is not only wholly unacceptable and quite possibly defamatory but also, in our opinion, highly damaging for both club and player. We would urge the footballing authorities to look closely at Mr Mourinho's comments and then, perhaps, seek a formal explanation.
'Both Everton Football Club and Andrew Johnson have always believed in the virtues of fair play and we would ask Mr Mourinho to immediately retract his allegations.'
Everton captain Phil Neville said: 'Mourinho's got no right to say things like that about our player because Andy doesn't go down easily in the area.
'Maybe he (Mourinho) should have a look at the incident on video, then have a look at himself in the mirror.'

Jose Mourinho Vs The World 20th December 2006

AN INTERVIEW WITH JOSE MOURINHO
This has not been made-up, though you might be forgiven for thinking it has. Mourinho honestly said the following…

What are your bad qualities?

My bad qualities are that I don't care about my image and because of that I don't care
about the consequences of what I say and the consequences of what I do. In the world of football to have some percentage of being a hypocrite is a great quality. I don't have one single percentage of being a hypocrite and I think that is a very bad quality in the football world. I'm not a hypocrite at all.



Would you be a better manager if you were a hypocrite?

Yes, I think so because I would care about my image and I would do things to protect my image. I would control my speech in certain ways. I wouldn't say what I think all the time because, when you say what you think all the time, sometimes you get into trouble. Instead of being a manager a lot of people love and a lot of people hate, I would be a manager that everybody loves.



Does your lack of success as a player drive you as a manager?

I was not a top player but I could have been better than I was. And I was not better than I was because I don't need football . When I made 18, my birthday gift was a car. At 18 I was going to university in my car. No buses. No underground train. I had money to go out with my girlfriend. My wife was my girlfriend already. If I want money to go on a weekend holiday, I had money to go on a weekend holiday. Because my father was a football man, I had money. I had a good life. So I was not the kind of person who was hungry to succeed to change my life.

I was asked by a Portuguese friend what I do with my money now. He said: 'Don't you want a big car? Don't you want something special you dream about?' I said the only thing I dream about is to succeed as a football manager, and I follow that dream.



So where did you get your hunger for management?

As a player I was not stupid. I could understand I would never reach the top. Being an average player was not a strong enough motivation for me. As a manager I was feeling that I can do it. When I was an assistant and I was feeling the qualities I would need to be a manager myself, I was thinking, "I can do it. I can do it." Year after year I was preparing for that.


But do you not get nervous?

No. I do not get nervous. I concentrate. I try to make decisions in advance. When I get the team sheet I try to understand who they have on the bench. What they are going to do if they are winning. What they are going to do if they are losing and they try to change the result. I try to anticipate the situation the maximum I can. I try to read my players' body language, their attitude. To try to see if they are ready for it. If they are calm, if they are extra motivated, if they need a word. But I don't get nervous.
It is afterwards, when I go home after a game that I cannot sleep. The night after the game I just cannot sleep.


Is there any part of you that envies Manchester United or Arsenal for their more expansive, adventurous football? The way they use wingers?

We had wingers last season and were told we were not an attacking team. This season we don’t have them so you cannot say that


But they have a reputation for more attractive football?

I think they sell their product well.

Would you not accept they are more attractive?

How can you say that?

Everyone says it.

Do they?

You are a very good power team.

I don't agree. We are a team adapted to the reality, which is why Arsenal cannot beat Bolton at Bolton and why Chelsea under have played three matches and got three victories at Bolton with zero goals conceded. The best football is the football adapted to the circumstances. You cannot play against Bolton at Bolton the same way you play at home against Watford.* Some teams and some managers play every game with the same philosophy, with the same game strategy and principles. Sometimes they beat someone 6-0 and sometimes they lose a game they shouldn't lose.
One of the strengths is to adapt to different realities, which is what I am trying to do with Chelsea in England and Chelsea in Europe. Chelsea cannot play in Europe the same way they play in England.


* Tell that to Sir Alex Ferguson who went to Bolton recently and won 0-4 !

William Gallas V Chelsea, 6th September 2006

William Gallas yesterday refused to rule out the possibility of taking legal action against Chelsea for making an allegation that he threatened to get himself sent off, make deliberate mistakes or even score an own goal against Manchester City in the opening match of the new season if the Premiership champions refused to let him leave the club.
In a statement issued on Monday, 4th September Chelsea also accused Gallas of initially refusing to play against Liverpool in last season's FA Cup semi-final.
Gallas said yesterday: "All this is very, very petty on behalf of Chelsea. But at the same time, coming on behalf of their new leaders, that does not surprise me. Even if Chelsea have much money, their new leaders lack class."
Interesting to note that Gallas has not actually denied the accusations so far. Chelsea may 'lack class' but would they really stoop to making such accusations if they were not based on truth?

Wayne Rooney and David Moyes Bust-up - Moyes threatens Daily Mail with lawsuit

From The People 20.08.06:
Furious David Moyes is taking legal action against Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney's scathing criticism and accusations in his book.
Everton chief Moyes's lawyers, London-based Max Bitel Greene, have been in official contact with a newspaper after Rooney's remarks in his autobiography 'My Life So Far' were serialised.
Rooney claimed that his relationship with Moyes had forced him out of Goodison two years ago - and into joining any club. He also accused the manager of being jealous of the attention he was receiving.
Moyes has said nothing about the row but legal letters have landed on desks, seeking an apology and correction of Rooney's comments.

Can this potential law-suit have any hope of success? Check out the words in bold in the quotes below...these are matters of opinion! Rooney has not said that Moyes is 'overbearing' or 'envious', merely that he 'appeared' and 'seemed' that way...so unless there's something yet to emerge, Mr Moyes does not 'appear' or 'seem' to have the basis for a successful case.

29.08.04 (Day before transfer) STRIKER DISAPPOINTED
Rooney is reported to be "gutted" and "disappointed" at Everton's handling of his transfer request. Now there seems no way back even if he wanted one.
"I'm disappointed at some of the things that Everton have said, especially considering that I know the truth," says the incensed 18-year-old.

25.07.06 KEY EXERPTS FROM WAYNE ROONEY'S BOOK - MY STORY SO FAR
Wayne Rooney has revealed he fell out with Everton manager David Moyes before he left his home club to join Manchester United in a deal worth over £27m in August, 2004.
The 20-year-old England striker said the bust-up with his old boss meant he considered joining Newcastle before moving to United.
"I would have gone almost anywhere just to get away from David Moyes,"
Rooney said in his autobiography, My Story So Far, which is being serialised in the Daily Mail.
"To me, he appeared overbearing; just wanting to control people," adding:
"I suppose being young and confident and playing for England at 17, I
wasn't bothered about upsetting him or answering back."
Rooney claims he had already decided to leave Goodison Park when he had a
training ground confrontation with Moyes, telling him: "I don't want to
play for you ever again."
"If no-one else had come in I would have gone to Newcastle," stated Rooney.
"But I knew that United was the club I wanted to join."
Rooney went on to accuse Moyes of being resentful of his growing
superstardom. 'There was only one person who seemed a bit upset and envious
of what was happening to me - and that was Moyes,' said Rooney.


DAVIS MOYES' STATEMENT TO PRESS 27.08.04 3 DAYS BEFORE ROONEY'S TRANSFER
"I'm not sure this would have happened if Newcastle hadn't sold Jonathan
Woodgate," Moyes said.
"That's triggered the whole market off - Newcastle have some money and they
have come in with an offer, then Manchester United have come in too.
"But up to a week ago I thought it was more likely he would sign his
contract (at Everton)."


ROONEY'S STATEMENT TO EVERTON FANS, 27.08.04, 3 DAYS PRIOR TO
TRANSFER-DEADLINE SALE TO MANCHESTER UNITED
"I hope Everton's fans will understand my decision.
"This has been one of the hardest decisions of my life but I feel the time
is now right for me to move forward with my career.
"The Euros were a fantastic experience for me. It made me realise I could
play at the highest level.
"To do that I need to be with a club that is playing in Europe every year.
I hope the Everton fans can come to understand my decision and I hope the
transfer fee Everton Football Club receive will help the club move forward.
"The Everton fans have always been fantastic in their support of me. I hope
they respect my decision and I also hope that some day in the future I
could be welcomed back to watch the team I have supported since boyhood."

Roy Keane & Mick McCarthy

During the summer of 2002, at a pre-World Cup training camp in Saipan,
Keane and Ireland manager Mick McCarthy had a disagreement about the FAI
preparations for the World Cup. Keane's dissatisfaction with the Irish
preparations first came to light in an interview with Irish Times
journalist Tom Humphries.

Keane later alleged in his autobiography that he felt the Irish fans were
"mocked" by the "lax attitude" the FAI took towards the preparations. After
a team meeting at which McCarthy accused Keane of feigning injury, Keane is
thought to have responded by insulting McCarthy and questioning his
abilities as a manager, although Keane denied this in his autobiography.

McCarthy decided he had no option but to send Keane home - although Keane
himself had first quit the squad before being talked around by various
trusted friends. Neither during nor after the meeting did any other player
voice support for Keane, although it is thought that some later expressed
their support to him in private: Keane mentions in his autobiography both
Gary Breen and David Connolly as having done so in the immediate aftermath
of the incident. Despite efforts from both the media and prominent Irish
politicians, Keane and McCarthy were unable to resolve the matter, and
Keane missed out on the World Cup, where Ireland reached the second round.
Roy Keane stated that he would not play again for the Republic of Ireland
under Mick McCarthy. The appointment of Brian Kerr as Ireland manager in
2003 eventually led to the return of Keane in the international arena in
2004. He made his International return on 25 May 2004, in a friendly match
against Romania at Lansdowne Road.

Roy Keane & Alf Inge Haaland

In 1997, after Haaland caught Keane above the knee in a hard but
just-about-fair tackle, Keane attempted to repay the compliment by fouling
Haaland in return and in the process injured his cruciate ligament.

As Keane lay flat-out in great pain, Haaland taunted him by implying that
Keane deserved the injury as punishment for his reckless tackle. He went on
to suggest that the Irishman was faking his injury and told him to get up
and get on with the game. Weirdly, (or perhaps not when you look at the
character of the man) it was the suggestion that he was faking his injury
that appears to have incensed Keano more than the fact that his knee had
just been severely crocked and he might never play at the top level again.
For three and half years Keane nursed this insult and then in 2001, the
pair finally came face to face in a competitive match for the first time
since Keane's injury, the Manchester derby.
Inevitably Keane exacted the revenge he had waited to mete out for so long.
Haaland was left with damaged knee ligaments after being fouled by the
Manchester United captain in the derby match of April 2001.

Allegedly, Keane said "Take that, you c**t!" after making the tackle. Keane
was later to admit in his autobiography that the tackle was deliberate.
Keane states he "had waited long enough" to exact revenge on Haaland after
suffering the knee injury incurred while playing against the Norwegian in
1997.

Keane's book also reveals that he too added insult to injury by taunting
Haaland whilst he lay in agony on the turf: "And don't ever stand over me
again sneering about fake injuries, and tell your pal (David) Wetherall
there's some for him as well," Keane is quoted as saying.

Keane was sent off for the tackle - and adds in his book: "I didn't wait
for Mr Elleray to show the red card. I turned and walked to the dressing
room." He was sent-off as a result of the foul on Haarland, incurring a 5
game suspension and a £150,000 fine to add to the injury and insults of
Haarland.

Haaland retired through injury a year later. Haaland's web site stated that
his retirement was not caused as a result of Roy Keane's tackle (for which
Keane could have been banned permanently from the game and/or sued had it
been proved that Haarland had had to retire as a direct consequence of the
United captain's tackle).
For the record, and according to his own website, the injury that ended
Haaland's career in football was in his OTHER knee, not the one that got
crocked by the Keane tackle.)

Ronaldo and Van Nistelrooy

On 9th May 2006 Irish owned Setanta Sports issued an exclusive which
claimed to reveal the real reasons for Van Nistelrooy being left out of the
Manchester United team for the final Premiership game of the season against
Charlton on 7th May 2006.
Setanta claimed that Ronaldo and Van Nistelrooy had come to blows during
one of the last training sessions of the season. Van Nistelrooy accused
Ronaldo of being too selfish with the ball, provoking a scuffle - the usual
hand-bags at dawn. Ruud then suggested that Ronaldo 'go running to your
daddy', which, although Ronaldo's father had died earlier in the same
season, was understood to be a reference to Ronaldo's fellow Portuguese
Carlos Quieroz, the United assistant manager.
Van Nistelrooy never played for Manchester United again.

Byword
Interesting to note that having 'sacrificed' Van Nistelrooy to keep Ronaldo
in the interests of team spirit, just a month later in Germany it was
Ronaldo's turn to become the villain in the bust-up with Rooney. Having
sacrificed Van Nistelrooy for Ronaldo, you could be damned sure Fergie
wasn't going to let another major star leave over another argument with a
fellow team-mate. But it came pretty close.

Cristiano Ronaldo & Wayne Rooney

There was no bust-up, just a media storm in a tea-cup. The press had to
find something to be able to continue to moan and groan about once their
perennial whipping-boys - Sven and the England team - had been thrown out
of the World Cup. They needed a new beast to feed on having gnawed on dim
Sven and his team to the very bone. Just like they did with Beckham against
Argentina all those years ago. It's normal. Remember? End of story.