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Cruyff calls Mourinho ‘arrogant, impotent’

Comment: 0 September 6th, 2011 by: admin

JOSE Mourinho’s untoward attitude toward one of Barcelona’s coaches recently has been branded as an “act of arrogance and impotence’’ by a former coach of the Catalan side.

In an interview Monday in El Periodico Catalunya, Johan Cruyff lambasted Mourinho for poking the eye of  Tito Villanova during a scuffle at the end  of last month’s Spanish Supercopa which was eventually won by Barca.

Cruyff, a former football star himself, said Mourinho’s rudeness revealed the Real Madrid boss’ obsession with beating the Catalans that has gone beyond the limits.

Mourinho, a former assistant mentor at Barcelona, could face a 12-game ban for the offense.

Cruyff lamented that Madrid is not doing anything to give Mourinho a lesson despite the bad example he did which was seen by millions of children around the world.

“Mourinho might be a good person in private and a good coach but what he shows the world is something else altogether,’’ the Dutchman was quoted as saying in the morning daily newspaper based in Barcelona.

He added Madrid has a very big responsibility to the world “and there are things that should not be allowed.’’

Animosity between Barcelona and Real Madrid has been on a high level following six clashes since April. Madrid won the Copa del Rey but Barcelona topped the La Liga and Champions League, increasing pressure on Mourinho and the Los Blancos to keep pace with their bitter rivals.

Aside from Mourinho, Cruyff also censured new Barcelona president Sandro Rosell for backing Mourinho instead of present Barca coach Pep Guardiola three years ago when the club was looking for a replacement to Frank Rijkaard.

Guardiola has since steered Barca to 12 trophies. Now on his final year as boss, Guardiola has become the club’s most successful coach in just over three seasons.

Rosell was also hit by Cruyff for allowing the Barcelona shirt to be used in advertising for the first time in history after the former agreed a 5-year contract with the Qatar Foundation for a reported 170 million euros (US$242.7 million). It was not the case during Juan Laporta’s term as head because Barcelona paid UNICEF to use its branding on their jersey.

Cruyff, who has relinquished his honorary club president title since Rosell took over, said Barcelona is now obsessed with not only winning titles but making a lot of money. “Over the last year the desire to seek out money has taken on too much importance.’’

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