The Bernabeu's in trouble? Don't worry we've got just the man to fix it

As Internazionale last night strode buoyantly up the Santiago Bernabeu steps to collect their first European Cup in 45 years, the glut of television cameras, flashing light bulbs and many of a line from commentators were not transfixed on Javier Zanetti, the club’s admirable long term Captain as he lifted aloft the prestigious trophy from the Madrid presidential suite but instead our television sets waited hand on foot for who else but Jose Mourinho.

This final was not about Inter, it was about one man’s determined, motivated and success laden quest for unforeseen achievements as in true ‘Special one’ fashion he grasped the limelight away from his players when he went on his own mazy run around Real Madrid’s headquarters.


Jose Mourinho waves his last goodbyes to Inter fans, whilst his team celebrate.

Wave’s goodbye, a look suggesting the Portuguese’s tenure at the Italian outfit was over appeared all too obvious to call. Mouriniho then scuppered down the tunnel with his child riding high on his shoulders leaving everyone confused about the pragmatisms of his next move. Could he have been making a quick dash to Florentino Perez’s office to sign contracts to become the new coach of Real Madrid? Indeed, last night’s late press conference in the bowels of the Bernabeu all but confirmed the next port of call for Inter’s treble winning manager. The 47 year old said: “I’m so sad as almost for sure it’s my last game for Inter”. He continued: “If you don’t coach Real Madrid then you always have a gap in your career”.

The challenge of managing and rebuilding a Real Madrid side, dilapidated in a state of disrepair indefinitely would receive full marks on his open resamay.

For Mourinho, though, a man whose meticulous attention to detail and vivid football focus let’s him investigate his players and their personality’s right down to the wire, would he be granted the keys to this wholesale access at the Spanish giants he craves? As is well documented, years of sackings, shirt sale boosting galacticos, trophy less seasons and millions of euro’s thrown down the drain, reflect a difficult task in the offing.

Real Madrid, are a club where success and history goes hand in hand, but to please a vociferous Los Blancos faithful, beautiful, articulate and winning football needs to be played almost immediately as Madrid, unrealistically or not expects the most ingenious football, generating Champions League and La Liga titles season after season. Nevertheless, they have not received this in recent years following Barcelona’s unprecedented march to record breaking accomplishments; however I’m not sure whether Jose Mourinho will be able to instantly hit if off of as Real Madrid coach.


Inter Milan's skipper Javier Zanetti lifts aloft European footballs most prestigious prize, a sight Jose Mourinho's future suitors are desperate to see.

First of all, the football played under his stewardship at Chelsea and Inter was very much underpinned by a workman like, destructive defence, where team prosperity remained key. Secondly, Mourinho, if he became Real boss may not have full control over the football management of the club which would go against his way of working. This coupled with the fact, that time is of the essence and that instant instalments of winning would be needed right from the very first ball at Madrid may make a hothead Mourinho throw in the towel if he is not given the time required by Perez, who has produced a sprawling cemetery of coach filled coffins since his time at the helm.

You would suspect a rigid contract agreement would be shelled out, but I do not think Real Madrid want to be in the position where they delegate majority power to the extrovert ways of the Portuguese.

Negatives there are, but if Jose Mourinho did take charge at Los Blancos he would be inheriting a star studded squad, with more investment likely to be on its way and surely this is the ultimate test of his man management credentials?

Love him or loathe him, it is the Mourinho show. His arrogant, unique, lovable but sometimes untenable style is the stigma for more column inches on a limb. For now his Inter team should bathe in their triumph, but the brains behind this latest San Siro slice of history looks to have more pressing matters at hand.

Resting ahead is England's key to the future

With seven gruelling cricketing months left in 2010, is it any wonder England’s management are contemplating resting players ahead of a defining period for Andy Flowers current side?

The euphoria and headlines of a magnificent Twenty20 World Cup triumph will live long in the memory, but with Bangladesh, the return of Australia and the Pakistani’s addressing English soil this summer the time might have just come to plan and rest ahead before Novembers eagerly awaited Ashes rematch.

England’s first Test squad for this summer’s proceedings will be displayed in front of the nations respected media on Sunday morning, but will it be a squad full of wholesale change particularly with opening tourists Bangladesh still not considered as one of crickets most challenging of examinations.

Twenty20 winning skipper Paul Collingwood and frontline seamer Stuart Broad, are among those tipped to be rested, and rightly so, because with no disrespect to the opposition England are now starting to build a collective team talent, whereby they need to nurture the players whom have asserted vast amounts of effort over the past couple of years, saving them for ‘big’ game scenarios.


Broad (left) and Collingwood (right) could be rested for England's Bangladesh tussle.

It appears difficult to foresee how and why players should receive prolonged breaks. Well, just look at England captain Andrew Strauss, for example, who missed the tour of Bangladesh. These players in question do live a charmed life, but now is the time where a month or two spent refreshing tired minds can really reap the rewards.

I can just imagine the situation now, when an England player finds themselves engrossed in a deadly hot Adelaide Oval, where a dropped or caught catch off Ricky Ponting on naught could be the difference between retaining or losing that little, coveted urn.

Key players are crucial and are talismanic for the team, but a glut of emerging talent is just banging at the door waiting to grab their opportunity. Middlesex quick, Stephen Finn could feature at his county home, Lords, but so could some of England’s Twenty20 starlets like Eoin Morgan whom seems itching to accredit his batting credentials in the longer form of the game.

Resting is sometimes a hidden charm as to the real reason for team change upheaval. Despite, an outstanding Ashes debut hundred, Jonathon Trott has since looked far from assured with the bat but one suspects he will have a fair few more chances to prove his worth this summer following a poor series in his native South Africa.

Forgotten man, Essex batter Ravi Bopara looks primed and ready to grab a Test chance should it be there for the taking, but it looks like the flamboyant hitter still has a point to prove amongst the English selectors yet.

With Collingwood approaching the twilight of his career, a missed Lords season opener is always a tough pill to swallow, but England have to look at the bigger picture. This team has announced themselves on the world stage and the coming eight months could shape the face of English cricket for a generation. It is that important.

England Squad for Two-Test Bangladesh outing: (Possible)
Strauss (c), Cook, Trott (or Carberry), Pietersen, Bell, Collingwood (or Bopara), Prior (wkt), Bresnan, Swann, Anderson, Sidebottom, Finn.

Blood and Thunder awaits in Twenty20 showdown

It has been years in waiting but tonight England, under the stewardship of coach Andy Flower and captain Paul Collingwood could win their first ever ICC event.

A win in Sundays ICC World Twenty20 final against great rivals Australia at the Kensington Oval would deliver England’s first trophy in limited over competitions since it was bought into the cricketing calendar over 35 years ago.

Explosive, consistent and in-form are superlatives that can be used to scatter over the team sheets of both sides ahead of this evening’s titanic tussle. The fluidity and sheer power of Kevin Pietersen with the bat has disregarded opposition proficiently, whilst the baggy greens ‘Mr Cricket’, Michael Hussey, is the main reason why Michael Clarkes outfit have a quick fire chance for Ashes revenge as he hit a stunning knock in the semi-final against Pakistan to overhaul the Aussies from the jaws of defeat to booking a place in the Twenty20 finale in the West Indies.


England and Australia Captains, Collingwood and Clarke, respectively, will go head to head this evening for one of crickets biggest prizes.

In 2004, England were sent packing by the West Indies in the One-Day World Cup Final, but skipper Collingwood who was on the receiving end that day will be determined to inscribe his team’s name in the history books this time round.

The stage is set, the coldrum is burning, and now it is just up to two of crickets most fearsome rivals to battle it out with blood and thunder to lift aloft the prestigious Twenty20 Trophy.

Match Report to follow after the game.

Rivalry set to be relived, as the games great duo prolong tennis eulogy

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will today meet eye to eye in the Madrid Masters final, with it being the first time since last year’s final that these two fearsome competitors have had the chance to renew their rivalry.

A year is a long time in sport, and especially in tennis. You only need to offer a sincere throwback to this time twelve months ago and a thwarted, tired, strained and outwitted Federer seemed lost in transition as his great Spanish adversary Rafael Nadal had battered the Swiss at Roland Garros, forced him to relinquish his treasured SW19 title and reduce the now sixteen time Grand Slam champion to tears in the 2009 Australian Open Final.

But this bumper mayday period for Nadal in 2009 was short lived. A barrage of troublesome knee problems and fitness quandaries gave a confident stricken Federer a glimpse at the keys coated in success, once again. Hard thought and ‘ego’ boosting, Federer took apart Nadal in the 2009 Madrid Masters Final proving his doubters wrong that he could beat the improbable Spaniard on his beloved clay surface. The Swiss superstar exploited, conjectured and wore down Majorcan Nadal as his knee issues seemed to seize up, whilst the ever-green Federer took him to the sword.

A win in the Spanish capital, was then followed by a near remarkable French Open. Frontrunner Rafael Nadal appeared ill at ease with himself as he could only see his unrelenting clay court record and his first ever Roland Garros defeat flash right before his eyes as Swede Robin Soderling’s clinical match play in the fourth round defeated the Spaniard, opening the door to Federer to finally win his first French Open title, completing his set of major wins. And the Swiss did not disappoint as he careered through to the final, beating Soderling, before collapsing to his knees in jubilation after securing his impossible dream.

Rafael Nadal, subsequently missed Wimbledon through injury, meaning he was not able to defend his crown as Federer swept in to claim his sixth London grass court title, surpassing in his wake the watching Pete Sampras as he moved onto fifthteen Grand Slam titles, one more then the great American.

Since then, Federer has with ease grasped a domineering grip on the mens game, whilst Nadal is only now returning to his best. The bustling Spaniard is only one Masters Title away from securing a record haul and in recent weeks he seems to have a re-installed belief and confidence as he knows how crucial the next few months are to proving the doubters wrong and establishing himself as the best on the world stage again.

Today’s final for Federer, serves as the perfect preparation for his Roland Garros defence in the coming weeks and the now father of two, gives the impression he is more than ready to relive his duel with Nadal again, as the Swiss player has a point to prove with many saying Nadal’s absence last year handed Federer two Grand Slam titles on a plate.


Two great foes are ready to lock horns once again.

Harsh criticism, but we will see who can get the upper hand in the Spanish capital this afternoon, which surely is the perfect platform and form remedy for the duo ahead of a critical summer.