Showing posts with label Jose Mourinho. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jose Mourinho. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Winning Ugly: Mourinho Style

Like a Wes Anderson film or a Kurt Vonnegut book, Mourinho’s teams have a distinct and recognizable style. They’re known to “park the bus” and happily take a 1-0 win. His forwards are fully expected to track back and anyone unwilling to do so will be sold (Mata’s fate) unceremoniously. Mourinho’s style has become full-blown at Chelsea where it was only nascent and semi-developed at his earlier clubs. Unsurprisingly, some scoff that it wants for aesthetic pleasure. 

Chelsea: Branding Experts First, Football Club Second

In an era of corporate branding, Chelsea has accomplished the impossible. It has successfully differentiated itself. In an attempt to remain inoffensive to all creeds and cultures, football clubs tend to inculcate an anonymous, global personality. This strategy counterintuitively alienates potential supporters. It can even backfire when would-be fans fail to develop allegiances to an entity that is so inoffensive as to be Michael Owen-bland. Someho, Chelsea has managed to standout in the milquetoast marketplace of club football.