THAT’S GOOD PR JOSE, BUT WHY SO MANY FANS IN PRESS BOXES?

IT WAS a heart-warming moment, when Jose Mourinho returned to answer the questions of a Macedonian journalist, whose late father was a fan of the Tottenham manager, and who didn’t get the opportunity to speak during the official press conference. Unless, of course, you happen to be a journalist. The writer, a local freelance, wanted a photograph with Mourinho to take to his s father’s resting place. Mourinho (right) obliged. It was good PR, and family is important to him. Yet a press conference is for asking questions. Increasingly, that is being ing forgotten. In Europe, certainly, prior to the distancing caused by Covid-19 restrictions, there were always requests for selfies, or signatures, and with the rise of club media, press boxes are now home to partisan cheers and applause. Celebrity culture has blurred lines. Some reporters are fans with microphones or laptops. In 2015, when Thiago Silva scored in extra-time for Paris SaintGermain to knock Chelsea out of the Champions League, the PSG media team and a French radio station went up in unison, and almost caused a riot in the lower tier at Stamford Bridge. Even club shirts are not uncommon these days. UEFA restricted media seats at last season’s Champions League finals event to one representative per paper — but when Lyon scor scored against Ma Manchester City it felt lik like sitting in the m middle of the main st stand at the Parc Ol Olympique Lyonnais. At Real Madrid, there is on one row that seems entire entirely occupied by media di f fan b boys, who jump from their seats waving imaginary yellow cards if a home player is fouled. And don’t get anyone started on Napoli. So, while it was a nice touch from Mourinho, to some of us it is just another example of the way press conferences are now stage-managed like Amazon documentaries. Which my dad really enjoyed, if you’re reading this, Jose.