Jose Mourinho has gone through several phases since leaving Manchester United. Initially Mourinho turned away from the noise in order to reflect on the value of what he was doing; a genuine need to review his own methodology led him to question what should change.
Without his lieutenant, Rui Faria – from whom he split and who was sorely missed in the final months at United – he needed to lay the groundwork for a future club with a coaching team full of renewed energy.
Mourinho has spoken with coaches, physical trainers and former colleagues to try and get to the bottom of what was being done wrong and what he needs to do to stay at the top.
Very quickly, however, he decided that in parallel to this he should maintain his presence in the limelight and began to collaborate with the media.
First on Russian television programme RT, then DAZN and Sky Sports, where he admitted that the job of commentator or pundit is rather more difficult than he thought.
While there he has given us a couple of gems (some subtle digs at United, and some surprising criticism of Lampard and Solskjaer) and generally seems to be having a good time in the role.
He has since been back to Old Trafford where he was applauded and shown affection, certainly much more than he received near the end of his time there. Distance helps us to forget.
While this has been going on, rumours have emerged about his future, some more plausible than others.
They say they want him in China, in Portugal (Sporting), in France (Lyon) and Bild reported a few days ago that he is flirting with Dortmund.
He has also dropped the fact that he is learning German into several recent interviews.
In his case, the build up of such speculation normally leads to something, just as Lyon president, Aulas, said: Mourinho has already decided where he wants to manage.
Everything is already in place, including his technical team. It is only a start date that is missing.
This is what those who know him well are saying. Mourinho is waiting for Real Madrid. He believes that want him (he is aware that their are doubts over Zidane from within) and he is keen to have another chance at Los Blancos.
Interest in him from some inner circles of the Madrid leadership has been admitted to but there is also denial over is any desire to have him return. Both extremes. But sources very close to the man in question admit that it is not so much about “if he will go to Madrid,” but “when”.
Amid the speculations, Real Madrid fans are backing Zinedine Zidane.
They believe that he’ll finish the season still in the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu hotseat despite a difficult start to the campaign.
In a survey carried out by Sigma Dos, only 19.4 percent of the Real Madrid supporters questioned said they would sack Zidane based on the team’s performances this season.
On the other hand, 31.4 percent of those surveyed said they support the Frenchman, with 30 percent of those asked giving him a good grade for the season.
However, only 6.7 percent gave him an outstanding grade, while 5.8 percent gave him an okay grade.
As for Zidane’s job prospects, 51.2 percent believe he’ll still be in charge come May, 31.2 percent think he won’t be and 17.5 percent weren’t sure.
After a damaging 3-0 defeat away at Paris Saint-Germain on the opening matchday of the Champions League group stages, Zidane was already up against it.
The three-time Champions League winner took a weakened Real Madrid team to the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan just a few days later and, with the pressure mounting, Los Blancos pulled off a hugely important 1-0 victory against Sevilla.
A draw against Club Brugge at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and a 1-0 loss at Real Mallorca started crisis talk again and meant that nothing but a win would do away at Galatasaray.
Just like in Sevilla, Real Madrid did just enough to see out a narrow victory away from home and ease the pressure on Zidane in the process.
Two crucial matches, two crucial wins and it looks like those results have removed the doubts over Zidane’s position.
Anthony Nlebem
