The Special One

I try to watch Sky News's press review. As I always say, you need to know what the enemy are saying.

They have some real heid-the-baw commentators but also a few very interesting people and here's one:

This is Matthew Syed who writes for the Times. On Saturday night he was commenting on the forthcoming appointment of Jose Mourinho as manager of Man United. You know Jose. Even I know Jose, the Special One:

Matthew Syed described Mourinho's management style. He's a narcissist: everything is about him. He doesn't inspire players so much as give them the notion that the whole world is against them - and against him. So a siege mentality sets in. The team, coaches, physios - everyone rallies round and forms a solid wall against the outside world. The press and TV reporters become the enemy.

Sir Alex operated in a different way:

Matthew Syed described interviewing people who had worked for Sir Alex and years after they left or retired they still talked out 'we', 'us', 'the team' - as if they were still part of the big family that was Aberdeen or Man U. While Mourinho demands loyalty to him, Sir Alex wants and gets loyalty to the family that is the club. I don't remember Sir Alex ever having a major bust-up with the press or TV people. That was not his style. Where Sir Alex was a shouter once in a while (but only in the dressing room), Mourinho is a sulker. He broods. He looks unhappy - and his players also become unhappy. 

Mourinho gets big jobs but he doesn't last because eventually the team and the club get sick of feeling they are under attack. Nobody can relax. Everything's a problem. 

The most amazing part of Matthew Syed's wee talk (and it only lasted a couple of minutes) was the silence and attention he got from the host and his fellow reviewer. I know nothing about football and nothing about Matthew Syed, but I felt where Mourinho was concerned he had nailed it. It'll be interesting to see what happens at Man U in the months to come.