Matters Metaphorical

There are times when you simply can’t help sympathising with Chelsea. After all, it must be utterly galling to have to deal constantly with people who seem unable or unwilling to comprehend the sophistication and subtlety of your approach to things.

Take Jose Mourinho for instance. Imagine his frustration and exasperation when France’s international manager Raymond Domanech was apparently incapable of grasping that in his reference to Makelele being treated like a slave he was merely speaking metaphorically – much as he did some time ago when he described Arsene Wenger as a ‘voyeur’.

It is also bound to be a matter of considerable regret to a sensitive, gentle and instinctively diplomatic man like Mourinho that others do not share his sense of fair play – and particularly hurtful when one of his own players allegedly refuses to turn out and suggests that if he is obliged to do so, he might consider scoring an own goal or not trying. In such circumstances, the club’s decision to make loyal supporters aware of what the player said may be regarded as understandable. And no doubt those supporters will look forward with interest to hearing in due course precise details of the contributions of others present at the time. Literally or metaphorically.