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Jose Mourinho: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t
Jose Mourinho throws a fit.
English: José Mourinho (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
What he said:
“Get a masters and become a doctor before you talk about my players’ fitness.”
Spanish midfielder and Chelsea stalwart Cesc Fabregas is displeased with the criticism from his countryman Sergio Ramos for not turning up for national duty. Fabregas missed two games for Spain—out with a hamstring injury.
Ramos, however, is no a paragon of virtue and holds the record for the most number of red cards by a Real Madrid player. He once left a match early to catch a bullfight.
Fabregas said:
“Yes I felt that I was the one being alluded to and I already told Sergio what I thought.It p—– you off when your commitment is questioned, of course it p—– you off. There have been a lot of matches and training camps I have turned up for without playing.I have made 94 appearances for Spain and for nine years I have always come, always. And with a smile from ear to ear.I said to Ramos he can call me on the telephone and say it to my face. I told him we have been playing together since the under-21s and there is no need to send messages in the media. But everything is fine.”
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho characteristically minced few words in responding to Ramos.
Mourinho said:
Since I’ve known Sergio Ramos he has been a fantastic football player, but he is not a doctor. He is not a doctor and I am the same. I do my job the best I can but I am not a doctor.My doctor and the doctor of the Spanish national team, they had the scans and they decided that the player was not in the condition to play.
I am nobody to go against it and I don’t think Sergio did a medicine Masters in the last couple of years to understand about it. Kompany didn’t play for Belgium against Wales and he played today. Has he a compromise with his national team? I think he has. He is the captain of Belgium.
Did he, how do you say, ‘cheat’ by not playing against Wales to play today? I don’t think he did. So we all accept that he was injured.
I trust my doctor 100 per cent. If Del Bosque doesn’t trust his doctor that is his problem not my problem. I speak with my doctor and I believe in what my doctor tells me. Nothing else. No problem.
Fabregas was in a doubtful situation, Diego no. Diego recovered totally from his problem with these two weeks that he had to rest and to improve his injury.
Fabregas is different. Fabregas survived. Diego no, Diego now is in great condition.”
Sergio Ramos (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
What he really meant:
“I’m not a doctor. You’re not a doctor. Should we even be discussing this? Fabregas was the patient and he needed your patience, not your allegations.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“I don’t trust our team doctor, so call me when you finish your degree. I have a vacancy to fill.”
Arsene Wenger: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t
Arsene Wenger needs a dictionary badly.
Arsène Wenger in training. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
What he said:
“When you are such a long time in football as I am, you don’t understand any more what crisis means. I must get to the dictionary and look at it well again.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger responds to majority shareholder Alisher Usmanov’s critical remarks about his team management.
Usmanov said:
“My opinion – and I tell it openly – we need to strengthen every position to play on the level of such teams in (the) U.K. as Chelsea and Manchester City, in Europe like Real (Madrid), Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, (Bayern Munich) and other clubs.
Arsenal is a dream that sometimes becomes a mirage and sometimes a pain as every dream.
(The) potential of the team is there, but there is no critical evaluation of mistakes and they need to need to acknowledge them. Because no genius can retain the same level of genius if they do not acknowledge mistakes. It’s only when you admit your mistakes that you can get rid of them.”
He added:
“Arsene Wenger is one of the greatest coaches not just of European but of world football.
But we have a Russian proverb which goes: ‘Even an old lady can have a roof falling on her.’ Everybody makes mistakes. He can make mistakes and I know as you age that it is more difficult, more challenging to accept one’s mistakes. Maybe it’s a problem today.
I like Arsene for his principles, but principles are a sort of restriction. And restrictions are always lost possibilities. That’s why sometimes coaches even without principles became the coaches of great teams and some coaches with principles lose because some positions in team are vacant because of ethical, moral or personal views.
Does he have money or not? There is officially money in the club. How does he spend [it]? This decision investors have left with him. I wish them victories, because their victories are the victories of investors, including myself, and of great Arsenal fans, which deserve these victories.”
Arsene Wenger dismissed Usmanov’s remarks:
“During the 18 years I have been here I have shown that I can take criticism. Everybody has the right to have an opinion, having said that, we have values at this club.
The first one is when we go through a difficult patch, we show solidarity. That is a very important one. The second one is that, when you have something to say to each other, we say it face to face. We don’t need to go to the newspapers.
I don’t take [Usmanov’s comments]personally at all. It is an opinion I respect, but when you are from this club, you are from this club. You are in or out, you cannot be both.
I am long enough in the game to know that when you play well, but lose the game, you get flooded with critics, however, if you play a very bad game, but you win it, everyone says how great you are.
It is our job to take a distance with that and see what was right and what was wrong. The rest is part of the game.
What is important is how close we are together inside the club and how much we can respond to people who question our quality. I personally feel there is a very strong bond inside the team and the club, and that this team will have a very strong season.
I believe in what I do and I especially believe in my players, and in their quality and spirit. I question myself every day and I hope you do that as well.”
What he really meant:
“Hmm… now should I look up sub-heading ‘team crisis’ or ‘personal crisis’?”
What he definitely didn’t:
“I’m going to be studying Russian proverbs instead—specifically the ones with old women in them.”
Saeed Ajmal: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t
Saeed Ajmal is in the failed 99 percentile.
What he said:
“I think 99% of bowlers these days would fail the 15 degree test for at least one or more of their deliveries.”
Ace Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal is confident that he will beat the 15 degree flex rule and return in time for the 2015 World Cup.
Speaking to PakPassion.net, the banned bowler said:
“I’m very pleased with the assessment of Dr. King. It was very heartening to hear what he had to say. I was expecting a reduction to about 30 degrees but to see that some deliveries are down to 20 degrees is fantastic and positive news for me.
Also, what is really encouraging is that most of my deliveries are now within the 15 degree limit. The ICC’s rules of course stipulate that all deliveries have to be under 15 degrees and I’m very confident that I will achieve that target with the help of [former Pakistan offspinner] Saqlain Mushtaq and all the other individuals who are helping me and guiding me.”
On bowling the doosra:
“I’m working hard on adjusting the doosra to ensure that it is also under 15 degrees and I’m confident that I will manage to do that.”
Ajmal feels that the 15-degree limit is too strict.
He said:
“I think 99% of bowlers these days would fail the 15 degree test for at least one or more of their deliveries. I also think that the technology being used in match situations to assess bowling actions is too strict. I think they should use the normal television cameras to assess our bowling actions, but instead what is being used are cameras that can virtually see the blood running though our bodies.”
On whether the doosra will die out:
“No I don’t believe that will be the case. The doosra is an art and a weapon to use against batsmen. God willing when I am back playing international cricket, I will bowl the doosra with the same venom that I always have done. The doosra is part of my repertoire and a delivery that I intend to continue bowling in future.”
What he really meant:
“Well, if they bowl like me, they surely will. And the doosra, oh, for sure.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“I’m trying to be an off-spinner in the classical mould. None of these newfangled outlandish deliveries for me.”
Maria Sharapova: What she said, really meant and definitely didn’t
Maria Sharapova’s beauty is skin-deep.
What she said:
“People always ask me about my beauty routine, but I think that beauty always comes in the way that you take care of your skin—not in the makeup you put on your face.”
Maria Sharapova talks shop, food, drink and beauty with Yahoo! Beauty.
What she really meant:
“Skin-care and exercise—that’s my big secret. But don’t tell anyone especially all the companies chasing me for celebrity endorsements.”
What she definitely didn’t:
“I guess I’ll be chucking my Avon deal soon enough—now that you know.”
Maria Sharapove (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Sania Mirza: What she said, really meant and definitely didn’t
Sania Mirza is candidly unsporting.
What she said:
“We’re not a sporting nation, we’re a cricketing nation. We need to accept that and stop pretending to be a sporting nation.”
Sania Mirza hopes that the International Premier Tennis League inspires more people to follow tennis and take up the sport.
Mirza said:
“Leagues are becoming like a cult now. It popularises the sport. Look at what it did for kabaddi. The IPTL is going to do the same for tennis. We have some of the greatest players in the world coming and playing in the country. It’s going to be huge. To me, it’s the awareness that’s going to matter. We’re not a sporting nation, we’re a cricketing nation. We need to accept that and stop pretending to be a sporting nation. Why don’t we produce sporting stars? Well, because there’s no awareness. There’s no help. People don’t believe they can be a professional athlete, they think they can only be a cricketer. I think leagues like this help to motivate and inspire people to take up the sport. A lay man will get a chance to see Roger Federer playing live. How can you not be inspired after seeing his class?”
Mirza described her recent meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Mirza said:
“I did meet him alone though, but we spoke about my sister. He remembered my sister, which was pretty amazing. I still can’t believe it. She was a pistol shooter and he was the CM of Gujarat. He met her at some event. I had no clue that he even met her. It was amazing. Anyway, at the meeting he just asked me if I was happy and if I needed assistance for anything. It’s pretty amazing for a PM because he’s trying to help and trying to change things in the country. He is motivating.”
On not playing singles any more:
“Yeah, I do miss playing singles. But I do know that it was the right decision to concentrate on doubles. You can’t fight nature. If your body is screaming every morning, you can’t be stubborn and say you are going to keep on playing and kill the body. I want to be able to walk when I’m 40. I don’t want to be in pain all the time. And it’s actually very upsetting because you wake up in the morning and you’re not able to work as much as you want to. I have a certain joint condition. I’ve had three surgeries. So yeah, at that moment it was the toughest call. I was still top-100 in the world, so it was not easy. I do miss it. But look at the bigger picture. If I was still playing singles I wouldn’t still be playing tennis any more. I’d probably be injured. It wasn’t about ‘if getting injured’, it was the question of ‘when’.”
What she really meant:
“To repeat a cliche (ad nauseam) ‘Cricket is a religion for us Indians and cricketers our gods. Other sporting heroes are minor deities to be recalled only on festive days (days when we actually win something)’. Every young boy wants to be a cricketer and will not even consider playing another sport.”
What she definitely didn’t:
“I should have this statement emblazoned on my tee. Wouldn’t that be cool?”
Viren Rasquinha: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t
Viren Rasquinha unveils his plan for stakeholder management.
What he said:
“I feel when there are such problems, all the stakeholders – be it Hockey India, Terry Walsh, sports ministry, SAI – you have to lock them up in a room, let them sit across the table and trash out all these issues.”
Former India hockey skipper and COO of Olympic Gold Quest, Viren Rasquinha, is hopeful that AussieTerry Walsh will return to coach the Indian side. Walsh resigned his post after his demands for a greater say in team decisions and the ability to pick his own support staff were turned down by Hockey India (HI) and Sports Authority of India (SAI).
The Indian hockey team has turned in stellar performances under Walsh’s guidance in the past year. The highlights are a Commonwealth Games silver, an Asiad gold ensuring direct qualification for Rio 2016 and a 3-1 series victory over Australia Down Under.
Rasquinha said:
“I am hopeful that he comes back. If you look at the overall results, he has done a wonderful job. The players are playing much better hockey. Leave aside the results, but in terms of the quality of hockey, their play has been very good.”
He added:
“It’s just so sad. I’m tired of speaking about it. I feel when there are such problems, all the stakeholders – be it Hockey India, Terry Walsh, sports ministry, SAI – you have to lock them up in a room, let them sit across the table and trash out all these issues. We should finally see everything for the good of Indian hockey. Good things are happening in Indian hockey for the last eight months and we should try our best to make sure that it continues.”
What Rasquinha really meant:
“And if they can’t resolve them, we should just throw away the key to the room.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“And while they’re at it, can we have some tea, coffee and snacks for the gentlemen? Terry Walsh can video-conference in, if he feels like it.”
Ravi Shastri: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t
Ravi Shastri sanctifies the dressing room and makes it a holy shrine.
What he said:
“For me, sitting in the dressing room is all about pride. This room is like a mosque, temple, gurdwara, church, you name it. It’s a sacred place.”
The Indian team director, Ravi Shastri, is quite clear that the team dressing room should be off-limits.
He added:
“When you’re playing for your country, there are just 14 or 15 players there and you should know what that means. I’m a big one for understanding and preserving the sanctity of the dressing room. When I enter it, my hair stands on end. The day I finished playing cricket I never went into the dressing room. That’s why I also believe no one – barring the players – should be allowed in unless he has a good reason to be there.”
What he really meant:
“No sneaking girl-friends or bookies into the dressing room either, chum. “
What he definitely didn’t:
“All this came to me after meditating heavily.Where else, but in the dressing room!”
Narendra Modi: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t
Narendra Modi is not averse to ‘Cricket Diplomacy’.Embed from Getty ImagesWhat he said:
“We celebrate the legend of Bradman and the class of Tendulkar together.
We are impressed by Australian speed as you are charmed by the Indian spin Until of course Shane Warne came along!”
The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was all charm and humour in his address to the Australian parliament injecting references to three great cricketers, two Aussies and one Indian. He is the first Indian premier to visit the continent in 28 years.
What he really meant:
“Yeah, that’s what India-Australia relations have been all about for so many years. Cricket, cricket and more cricket. “
What he definitely didn’t:
“I’m sorry I left out all the Indian students Down Under. Some other time, perhaps. Can’t I label them ‘Made in India’ too?”
Dale Steyn: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t
Dale Steyn would rather not play craps in the car park.
What he said:
“It’s got nothing to do about I’ll see you in the car park and we’ll beat the crap out of each other.”
Dale Steyn has not forgotten his war of words with the Australian skipper Michael Clark during the Newlands test in March this year.
In Zimbabwe later this year, Steyn said:
“I haven’t really spoken to him [Clarke] much since then to be honest. I don’t take many things personally, but what he did say to me I did take personally. I know he apologised in the media and I should be playing this down.
But the day he comes and shakes my hand and says, ‘I really mean what I said,’ and behaves like the way he should, maybe then I will (forgive him). But for right now, he’s not here so I’ll wait until I get to Australia.”
Steyn is still upset with Clark for what he considers a personal sledge.
The South African pacer said:
“I don’t think I can mention it over the air now”.
He added:
“[That’s] why I said if I see him we’ll have a normal chat between the two of us. It’s got nothing to do about I’ll see you in the car park and we’ll beat the crap out of each other. It’s got nothing to do with that man, maybe I just said too much in Zimbabwe.
The issue got blown out completely, it was like two schoolgirls the way the media got hold of it. I felt like Clarkey had his opportunity to say something at the end of the Cape Town Test and obviously I wasn’t in the press conference there and the next opportunity I got was a couple of months later in Zimbabwe so I said what I felt.
It wouldn’t have been fair if I’d said something straight after, I would have been called a sore loser after losing the series or the match so I just kept my mouth closed until it was my turn to say something. I didn’t want it to start a massive thing. It did, doesn’t matter. He’s not playing now. He’s obviously injured. Hopefully he gets well, he’s a great player and I think there’s enough respect from both of us, we’ve played against each other for long enough now and it’s just kind of got blown out of the water. It’s a bit silly really in all honesty.”
On the Aussies’ aggressive on-field appproach:
“Aussies are that kind of side they’re always in your face.I think of all the sides that play Test cricket in the world, the Aussies are always well known for being in your face kind of cricketers, kind of bullying teams and stuff like that. I don’t play my cricket like that personally.
I may look like that when I’m on the field and everything like that but I am a fast bowler, that’s just what you’ve got to do at the end of the day. I don’t quite agree with the way some of the things are done I think there’s a line. And I try to stay close to that line but never over-stepping it and if I do over-step it, I’ll be the first guy to put my hand up and say I’m sorry and go and do whatever I can to fix that.
Australia have always been that kind of side, so it doesn’t surprise me when they come hard or when somebody you’ve been a team-mate with before doesn’t greet you at breakfast, that’s just the way it is.”
A cricket shot from Privatemusings, taken at the third day of the SCG Test between Australia and South Africa. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
What Steyn really meant:
“It’s a gentleman’s game, chaps, and I’m a sensitive guy. I can carry a chip on my shoulder for, let’s say how long it’s been now? Eight months?”
What he definitely didn’t:
“I’d rather bowl to him in the car park when he’s without his protective gear. That’s what car parks are good for—ambush territory.”
Garry Kasparov: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t
Garry Kasparov questions Anand’s predatory instincts.
English: Viswanathan Anand, world chess champion (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
What he said:
Lëtzebuergesch: De Garri Kasparow géint de Computerprogramm Deep Junior am Januar 2003. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
13th World Chess Champion and Chairman of the Human Rights Foundation Garry Kasparov believes that World Championship contender and former champion Viswanathan Anand is not the same opponent he defeated years ago to retain his crown.
What he really meant:
“Anand is not the Lightning Kid anymore. Not when it comes to playing Magnus Carlsen. He still has bite but has to play the waiting game, hoping his opponent takes the bait and is ensnared.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Tiger Tiger burning bright,
On the chess boards of Sochi:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?(With apologies to William Blake).”
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Make Time For Sports. 