Jose setting a bad example - Cruyff

The behaviour of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho sets a bad example for young people, Dutch football great Johan Cruyff said. EPA/JOSE COELHO

The behaviour of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho sets a bad example for young people, Dutch football great Johan Cruyff said. EPA/JOSE COELHO

Published Oct 6, 2015

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The behaviour of outspoken Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho sets a bad example for young people, Dutch football great Johan Cruyff said on Tuesday.

Mourinho has hogged the headlines over the opening weeks of the Premier League season, hitting out at rival managers and attracting criticism for sidelining female team doctor Eva Carneiro, who has left the club.

Mourinho was also charged with misconduct by the Football Association for criticising the referee after a 3-1 loss at home to Southampton last Saturday that left his side two points above the relegation zone.

“What I like about him is he's always capable of creating good ambience within the players and what I don't like is that he always puts himself on the first row,” Cruyff told British television channel Sky Sports News.

“He should be on the second row. It's probably because of his (non-playing) background, where he's never been cheered by 100,000 people, or whistled at by 100,000 people.

“Maybe it's because of that, maybe because of the interest from the press, but I don't think he is educating children to play football or educating for life.

“He should behave better because he will be in the press all over the world.”

Cruyff, emblematic star of the great Holland team of the 1970s and a former coach of Ajax and Barcelona, also reopened an old feud with his countryman Louis van Gaal, the Manchester United manager.

“He doesn't dominate,” said Cruyff, 68. “I like dominating football. Manchester doesn't play like that.”

He added: “Results, I think, are second. The game is first. Money is very important, but always second. In England they play different; everybody has their own style. A mix of styles is always good.

“The most important part are the fans, that people are going home happy. It's their time off and you should give them something to enjoy.” – AFP

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