Jose's pissed at Barca...again!

For a man who's had his share of good fortune, it's fair to say that luck always seems to desert Jose Mourinho whenever he's up against Barcelona.

From Chelsea to Real Madrid, the Catalan giants have, time and again, foiled the self-proclaimed Special One's quest for glory. Minus that historic victory by Inter in the Champions League last season and you might call Barcelona the Special One's kryptonite.  

And when you consider Mourinho's history with the club, it does seem strange that he keeps finding defeat at the hands of the club that made him the coach he is today. In someways, Mourinho shares a strange similarity with Cesc Fabregas, another Barcelona old boy, who just can't seem to get the better of his former employers.

But unlike the Arsenal midfielder, who speaks fondly of his time at the Nou Camps, there seems to be little love lost between Mourinho and the club where he served as assistant manager to both the late Sir Bobby Robson and Louis Van Gaal. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the press keep reducing his role at the club over those years to that of a mere translator. (Oddly enough, Mourinho, who once cheekily asked a Spanish reporter, "How do you say 'cheat' in Catalan?" after a Chelsea defeat to Barcelona, is reported to be fluent in Catalan.)

As such, Real Madrid's tie against Barca in the semis of the Champions League was always promising to be vicious affair. Even before the match, Mourinho lay the first challenge by labeling Barcelona coach, Pep Guardiola as belonging to a new breed of coaches who complain against referees for making the right decision. That comment, unsurprisingly, drew much ire from Nou Camp boss who got all potty-mouthed at Mourinho at the pre-match press conference (WATCH BELOW).



Suffice to say, all the pre-match psychological baiting did little to alter the outcome of the first leg at the Bernabeu. Guardiola's men won the tie 2-0 but the match will be remembered for many other things than yet another superb showing from Lionel Messi. Real Madrid midfielder, Pepe's sending off in the second half for a lunge at Dani Alves was the turning point for a match that had remained 0-0 until then. Mourinho's protests also earned himself a red card and was forced to watch the remainder of the match from the stands as Barcelona took full advantage of the extra man in their side.

Following the match, Mourinho claimed the tie to be over with Barcelona guaranteed a place in the final although one finds it hard to believe Madrid won't put up a fight in the return leg at Barcelona. Until then though, Mourinho won't be finding his favorability rankings increasing among the Nou Camp faithful following his latest tirade against former employers. This time, the Pissed-Off One claims referee decisions always seem to go Barcelona's way and hinted at a conspiracy behind the Catalan club's success. Is he getting desperate?