Can Mourinho conquer La Liga?





Plan B: Mourinho needs to find another way to wrestle the title away from Barcelona



Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Pique, Puyol and David Villa were part of the 2010 Fifa XI. Lionel Messi won the 2010 Ballon D’or for the second consecutive year followed by Barcelona teammates Iniesta and Xavi as runner-ups. The Barcelona men are in a class of their own. In the current La Liga season, they dominate and score goals as easily as closing a lid. Real Madrid is now 4 points behind the champions and cannot keep up. Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw to Almeria did not help either. Mourinho laughed off his team’s performance and Almeria’s players who took to diving to slow the clock down. Even La Liga top scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, couldn’t force the winner – his last gasp free kick hitting the post. Barcelona followed their rivals with a 4-1 drubbing of Malaga. Easy enough. They win by many and outclass always. With a midfield that is far beyond any team’s in any league, Barcelona dominate possession and play together like a squad who have grown up together. They know where each player is, what leading runs are present and how to play against any defense. Imagine how frustrating it is to be a Real Madrid player at the moment? You’re second best. You can’t seem to grapple the champions and you never top the league despite handy wins. Mourinho won manager of the year in the FIFA awards with his stint with Inter Milan. There is no doubt that he holds the knowledge of something miraculous. But can he really overcome Guardiola’s experience in the league? Should he buy a star striker to cement a title shot? Benzema is inconsistent and without Ronaldo, Madrid’s attack seems flimsy at times. The Portuguese winger is in the form of his life but no winning team can rely on a single player. Barcelona have the goods – Messi, as scorer and playmaker; Xavi, holding on to the ball and finding the hardest pass. Iniesta, alongside Xavi, passing until the stats soar. Villa is on form and is always a threat to defenses. Pique is strong in the air and can keep any attack out.  Puyol is brawly and ever present in the box. I wonder if any team in Europe can stop the Spanish giants? I’ll have to say Manchester United hold the only chance but I’m biased. Let’s see if Mourinho can smile for the right reasons this season. There are rumours that Van Nistelrooy is set for a return and Adebayor is also in the running.