Jornada 5 Preview: The Special One Edition

By: Greg | September 21st, 2007

I feel the itching need to gain some blog closure on the Jose Mourinho situation as he closes the chapter on his Chelsea reign. Human beings are prone to labeling things. Por ejemplo: “The Best _______ I’ve Ever Had” or “That was classic / awesome / unbelievable.” We feel the need to quantify subjective events or things by using objective descriptions. What is one person’s awesome is another person’s awful. However, no matter how you feel or felt about Jose Mourinho, there is no denying that the Premiership is, in NO WAY, gaining ANYTHING by him leaving. His biggest adversaries are coming out with comments of praise and respect for the Special One. He’s reducing larger-than-life men like Didier Drogba to tears over his departure. Even if Mourinho isn’t your cup of tea, he’s affected your footballing world in some definitive way, shape, or form. The same can’t be said for many other bosses and won’t be said for many other bosses in our lifetimes. In my subjective opinion, the man’s objectively a Bad Ass Motherfucker who I can only hope will be heading up the Portuguese selecção in the very near future and not on an opposing club or country’s sidelines.

After a shitty week in European competition (6 losses and 1 draw), some of these teams involved in the Cup or Champions League contests ought to win domestically and hopefully lift their spirits. Braga v. Benfica should provide a top level talent display and 2nd place Sporting face unblemished V.Setúbal at the Alvalade to see if the team from Mourinho’s hometown are for real in challenging for Europe or just early season pretenders. This week’s FixtureFacts (ver 2.5) are in honor of the Special One.

-=Jornada 5=- In honor of the Special One, the kick offs are presented in his local (assuming Portugal) time.

Sexta-feira, 21 Set. @ 20:30 — Naval (This guy has sarcastically linked the Special One with this floundering side) v. Vitoria Guimarães (Mourinho has probably made countless women named ‘Vitoria’ wet in the underpants)

Domingo, 23 Set. @ 16:00 — Leixões (Were in 2nd div. during Mourinho’s tenure) v. Nacional (Mourinho signed keeper Hilario away from Nacional when he had the dual keeper injury crisis last year)

Domingo, 23 Set. @ 18:00 — Braga (Mourinho’s wife and child reportedly appear on Braga’s crest) v. Benfica (briefly managed by Mourinho in 2000)

Domingo, 23 Set. @ 18:30 — Marítimo (starts and ends with the same letters as “Mourinho”) v. Belenenses (his father Félix was a keeper for O Belém)

Domingo, 23 Set. @ 19:30 — P. Ferreira (can be mistaken for one of Mourinho’s first Chelsea signings) v. Porto (you’re kidding right?)

Domingo, 23 Set. @ 19:45 — U.d.Leiria (briefly managed by Mourinho in 01/02) v. E.d.Amadora (Mourinho held a pseudo-internship here at one point)

Domingo, 23 Set. @ 21:15 — Sporting (worked here as a translator under Sir Bobby Robson) v. V.Setubal (the club from his hometown)

Segunda-feira, 24 Set. @ 19:45 — Boavista (play in the same town as Mourinho’s breakthrough club Porto) v. Academica (probably the level of club his successor Avaram Grant should be managing)

I end this post and close this week’s business by pleading with Jose to boss the Portuga National Team to countless international victories. (This would be better than Real Madrid, Barcelona, or any other potential Chelsea rival) Kisses ALL AROUND!