Special One smiles again
LONDON: Jose Mourinho had a smile on his face again as he took on a side managed by Argentina legend Diego Maradona for a legends match on Wednesday.
The Manchester United boss has endured his most testing time in charge at Old Trafford in recent weeks after a shock Champions League exit to Sevilla but Mourinho cut a far more relaxed figure at the Hublot event in Basel.
Jamaican sprinting sensation Usain Bolt was among a host of big names who took part with Brazilian full back Roberto Carlos and Dutchman Patrick Kluivert put through their paces in front of a packed crowd.
With the international break providing a welcome break for club managers, Mourinho was able to boast a rare smile before he prepares to welcome Swansea City to Manchester at the end of this month.
Former England striker Alan Shearer joked with his Twitter followers that Mourinho had one eye on the pace of Bolt as a potential new striker for the Red Devils.
Bolt is working hard to improve his footballing ability ahead of leading out a World XI at Old Trafford on June 10 for Soccer Aid.
While the event in Switzerland was laid on by watch manufacturer Hublot, it was interesting to see Bolt don a shirt that appeased his Puma sponsors — he was the only star name to bag himself a custom sponsored jersey.
Finding themselves behind in the second half, Maradona pulled on his boots and could not resist showing his tiring charges how it is done; Mourinho looked more than happy doing his talking from the sidelines.
And it was Mourinho’s side who narrowly edged the contest with Bolt the name on most viewers lips come the trophy presentation.
“For me it was wonderful,” Bolt said. “You can see their skills and it was a fun time, I’m happy to be here. It’s not easy! It’s all about movement but it was fun, the start of something great.”
And when asked by Shearer, following on from his social media post, about Bolt turning out at Old Trafford, Mourinho suggested that football lost a big talent to the sport of athletics.
“When I listen to him speaking about football I thought it was more a funny thing, a kid’s desire, a kid’s dream but I think not at all,” Mourinho added.
“Maybe football lost a talent to athletics.”