Substance and Stature

How big a man is Jose Mourinho? We’re not talking feet and inches here. Or metres and centimetres. Fortunately. No, this is about stature. Real stature.

Is he, for instance, big enough to retract at least a measure of his searing post-match criticism directed at Reading’s Stephen Hunt, the referee and the emergency medical services? He should do, because the validity of some of those criticisms has been called into question by the evidence and through the testimony of many people who have no allegiance whatsoever to Chelsea or Reading.

And is he big enough to acknowledge that, so far at least, there is absolutely nothing Chelsea can do to match the gorgeous, inspirational, flowing football produced by Arsenal? He should be, because anyone who knows even a little about the game can see that the quality of Arsenal’s play is unrivalled – certainly in this country, possibly in Europe.

So come on Jose, forget about grinding out your precious points and sniping at practically everyone in sight, just for a moment. Prove that you actually do know the game. Demonstrate at least a little generosity of spirit, and a sense of real justice. Aspire to be a bigger, rather than a more bitter, man.

Because lately you’ve been sounding much more Meldrew than Mourinho.