the five rules of Mourinho

So Marca has a list of five rules that José Mourinho expects his players to follow (the first five of many, I’m sure).  So let’s take a look at them and predict which players will be the first to break them!

One.  Whoever arrives late will not train with the group.

Training sessions will begin at 9:30h and whoever arrives even one minute late will not be allowed onto the field, but have to work on their own.

And my guess is… Drenthe, simply because he’s arrived late a few times in the past.

Two.  Whoever arrives late won’t be allowed on the bus.

The bus will be at the front entrance to the hotel and leave at the appointed time.  It won’t wait for anyone.  Whoever doesn’t arrive on time will stay there.

And my guess is… Cristiano, because I’m sure there will be where days his hair isn’t working and his super gel is not sticking and he’ll lose track of time when he’s in front of the mirror.  First runner up is Álvaro Arbeloa, because he’s absentminded.

Three.  Training sessions are for 90 intense minutes.

All training sessions will last for 90 minutes, and be intense.  The majority of the session will be with the ball.

And my guess is… Marcelo.  He won’t be able to last the session without goofing off and so will get yelled at for that.  (This was a hard one, because I think everyone will be in top physical shape – or at least I hope so – so I looked at it from a different angle).

Four.  Injured players are to arrive one hour earlier.

Injured players will have to be in Valdebebas one hour earlier than everyone else to meet with the doctors, who will notify the coach if the player can train or not.

And my guess is… Guti (if he stays).  It’s the combination of plenty of injuries plus a supreme fondness for la marcha.

Five.  Mobile phones are to be kept silent on the bus.

Players can use their mobiles but they can’t make noise when they ring.  Players can also listen to music, but have to use headphones.

And my guess is… Sergio Ramos.  After an entire summer of listening to “Waka Waka” at top volume on the team bus, he’s bound to accidentally play something out loud.

And some other things.

According to AS, Mourinho has a book of 250 different exercises and plans to use cycle through them so players don’t get bored.  And the area of Valdebebas that used to be a VIP zone for family and friends has become a rest area for the players, with a big screen TV, DVD players and Play.