Sunday’s League Cup Final proved a number of things.
Firstly it proved that you can, in fact, buy success and that Roman Abramovich’s millions (215 million on players alone in fact) have not been entirely wasted.
Secondly it proved that Liverpool are a mere shadow of their former selves. Not even as good as they were two or three seasons ago, a club very much in decline and in desperate need of investment.
Thirdly it proved I still don’t know anything about making predictions (I had Liverpool down for a 2-1 win just in case you missed it) and should probably keep my mouth shut in the future.
Finally it proved that Jose Mourinho is most definitely the Jekyll and Hyde of English football, displaying in the course of 120 minutes enough attitude to make him revolting and enough compassion to make him endearing.
It was, if not a quality match, a thrilling one which should have finally laid to rest the theory that the League (or Carling if you prefer) Cup is not viewed with a great deal of importance anymore.
You can’t really ask for a better start to a final than for the underdogs, which is what Liverpool were if we are honest, to score a cracking goal inside the first minute.
That really set the tone for the entire match with Liverpool looking to counter as Chelsea applied all the pressure. But, even with half an hour to go, I still believed Benitez’s men would hold out for a scarcely deserved win.
However, I hadn’t banked on Steven Gerrard’s momentary lapse of reason. The young England midfielder had played his socks off up until the 78th minute but, in a split second’s loss of concentration, he played Chelsea back into the game with an own goal a striker would have been proud of.
Cynics might say he was just repaying the first installment on next summer’s transfer fee when he is now more likely than ever to swap Anfield for Stamford Bridge.
Ironically Gerrard himself said he would only stay at Liverpool if they started winning things and making progress. Yet it was his error that helped ensure the former didn’t happen on Sunday.
But if Gerrard’s mistake was unfortunate, then Jose’s reaction to it was just plain wrong. For a manager to turn to the opposing supporters and tell them to shush was totally inappropriate and well out of order.
He may claim now that he was actually gesturing to the media but that is just a poor attempt at getting out of a sticky situation. The media were on the other side of the pitch and he knew that, and the cameras were pointing straight at him so why turn away from the action towards the crowd? The consequences could have been disastrous if just a few of those Liverpool fans had allowed their anger to boil over.
Mourinho has, as I said before, a dark side to him. One which is based on his own supposed supremacy and his self belief which sometimes borders on the insane. This incident was a perfect example of the potential dangers of an over-inflated ego.
But, just as I was ready to lay into him big time, he came back out on the pitch at the end of the match and showed a kind and caring side by shaking hands with each and every one of the defeated Liverpool team.
It was a gesture which was both magnanimous and warm and one which I am sure not too many victorious managers would have taken the time to do. Football’s very own Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. With a dash of hispanic temperament thrown in for good measure.
When the dust has settled Jose could well face a charge or two by the FA to add further thickness to the plot that has been his first season in charge in England.
But while some may feel his out of order behaviour after the equaliser warrants a touchline ban, I tend to think his red card at the time was enough punishment.
Heck, the man even had the decency to apologise afterwards. And there’s not many managers who would bother to do even that.
Strange chap this Mourinho. Complex, moody, arrogant but never, ever dull.
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