Here’s What Mourinho Did When Maicon Turned Up To Training Sessions Drunk
REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino
Jose Mourinho is without doubt one of the finest footballing managers in world football, and Manchester United finally seem to be rising back to their old best under him this season. The Portuguese is one of the finest tactical geniuses in football management, and his trophies come as justified proof for the same.
The man came into the limelight in 2002-03, when he won the Primera Liga, Taça de Portugal and UEFA Cup in his first full season in charge of Porto and sensationally claimed the UEFA Champions League in the following season.
The boss has never looked back since, and one of his finest jobs as a coach was his spell at Inter Milan. Mourinho guided the team to a historic treble of the Serie A, the Champions League and the Coppa Italia in 2010.
This achievement separated Jose from the rest, and gave him the status of being better than most out there. It is not only the on-field tactics that make a manager great, but a combination of understanding the players and being flexible with the demands that take coaches to great heights.
A fine example of Mou’s willingness to win comes across when his treatment of Maicon at Inter Milan is looked into. The defender was one of the best right-backs in the world during those days, and according to former striker, Ianis Zicu, he would often come drunk on Monday mornings to training.
But instead of getting ugly with the professional, Mourinho simply shifted the timings a little and things fell into place.
Zicu told Digi Sport (via Football Italia): “Mourinho once called the lads together and asked them, ‘how can we get Maicon in position?’ After that, he decided to move the session to the evening. And that’s how it went.
“They didn’t train in the morning, but they did in the evening so that Maicon could recover for training. These situations can happen in a team, and that team must make a decision.”
Mourinho is truly a magician in what he does, and Manchester United fans cannot wait to be on the receiving end of such winning magic.
Written by Vikram Gupta 
An attacker with his words, and defends each of them with pride. A love for the game which goes hand in hand with his will to forever write. A graduate in the course of advertising and a hopeful to be author. Herrera for the win.