3 reasons why Jose Mourinho has failed at Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho has supposed to be different. He was meant to arrive in Spain with his magic wand, knock Barcelona off their lofty perch and win the Decima – and his Tercera. Both will have to wait now. And the Portuguese manager might not be part of Madrid’s decade long quest.

Judging from his post-match interview, the Portuguese will be on the move again this summer. He was asked if he would still be at the Santiago Bernabeu, when the new season starts and his reply was, “Maybe no. I want to be where people love me to be. I know in England I am loved by the fans, the media they treat me in a fair way. I know I am loved by some clubs, especially one.”

It’s a big hint that he would be returning to Stamford Bridge. As he prepares to leave his failed project in Spain behind, I have three theories, as to why he did not achieve what he set out to.

1. He did not necessarily topple Barcelona

In his three years in charge of La Blancos, Mourinho has only won one Liga title, a Copa del Rey (with the possibility of a second to come) and a Spanish Supercopa. For a coach who is widely regarded as a trophy magnet, that is little or no success. Barcelona have won the La Liga twice and a Champions League trophy in that space of time. As it stands now, Madrid is battling rivals Atletic for second position in the League, as the Catalans have raced out of sight.

2. Maybe he is not really the Special One

It took the same three years that Mourinho has been in charge of Madrid, for former coach Vincente Del Bosque, to win two Champions League trophies. The second was in 2002 – the last time the Spanish giants have lifted the trophy. Del Bosque has gone on to achieve unprecedented success with Spain’s national team, while Madrid have sought their La Decima desperately. Jurgen Klopp, who he hasn’t been able to find a way past in four meetings, has won two German league titles, a German cup and is in a Champions League final inside three years. Mourinho has to quickly realise, as he makes his way back to a fiercely competitive EPL, that he is not the hottest thing since microwave.

3. He never takes the blame for disaster

After Madrid were ousted on their own patch on Tuesday, Mourinho told reporters: “I am very sad and disappointed with one of my favourite referees, Howard Webb. It’s a red card for Mats Hummels, he saw it. In that moment he was not a referee, he was a human being. He thought ‘if I give a red card to Mats Hummels, he will miss the final’.”

It is always the case with Mourinho. If it doesn’t go to plan, it is either his players, the club’s president, the weather, the pitch or even the date of the match.