Nov 2010

Ramos and Alonso deliberately sent off against Ajax

In a case of trying to be too clever, Mourinho instructed Spanish internationals Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso to get deliberately sent off toward the end of a Champions League match with Ajax in 2010 so that they would then serve a suspension in a meaningless group match before being free to play in the last-16.

Unfortunately, the Portuguese's method of communication through goalkeepers Jerzy Dudek and Iker Casillas wasn't very discreet. After being caught, Mourinho was given a fine and a touchline ban, while Ramos and Alonso had their suspensions extended by a game.

May 2011

Claims of referee bias toward Barca

The sending off of Pepe in Real's 2-0 defeat to eternal rival Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals proved too much to bear for Mourinho, as having had players sent off against Barca when in charge of Chelsea and Inter, he inferred UEFA's referees of always favoring the Catalans.

Aug 2011

Giving Vilanova a poke in the eye

With tempers still raging from that Champions League clash at the end of the previous season, the 2011-12 campaign opened with another pair of El Clasico clashes in the Spanish Super Cup.

With Barca once again heading for victory in the final minutes of the second leg at the Camp Nou, Mourinho poked then-Barca assistant boss Tito Vilanova in the eye.

Amazingly, Mourinho ended up serving no suspension for the act, and later even claimed to have not known who Vilanova was.

Dec 2012

Dropping of Casillas last straw

Throughout a fiery final season in charge, the one topic that seemed to have a whole nation lined up against Mourinho was his decision to drop national icon Iker Casillas.

Mourinho was unhappy with the lack of intensity with which the Spanish captain was training and dropped him in favor of the inexperienced Antonio Adan for league games against Malaga and Real Sociedad.

The saga rumbled on in 2013 when, after recovering his place in the side, Casillas broke a bone in his hand forcing him onto the sidelines for three months.

AFP

(China Daily 05/22/2013 page24)