By Paul Sorene
Sorry: Ronaldo apologises after scoring for Real Madrid against Manchester United
Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has a blog. He wrote on it following United’s 4-2 win over city rivals Manchester City.
His article is entitled ‘Outstanding Atmosphere at the Theatre of Dreams‘:
Hi everyone…
So much for the start. We’ll fast forward to the bit where Mata talks about United’s upcoming trip to Chelsea.
From this Monday we are already thinking about our next ‘final’, a visit to the leader of the Premiership… going back to Stamford Bridge for the first time will bring me plenty of good memories, for sure.
The day I arrived to this great club I wrote: “Gratitude is the memory of the heart”. And I keep thinking the same.
At that time I had the chance to thank everybody who helped me in London during those two and a half years, and next Saturday it will be nice to meet former team-mates, fans and friends.
I keep good memories of them and I wish them the best…
Call me old-fashioned but I like it when my team’s players don’t declare their love for the opposition.
I sympathise with the Newcastle United fan who spotted his side’s goalkeeper Tim Krul wait at half-time to congratulate Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe on scoring what turned out to be the game’s only goal and noted:
“It’s the f**king derby… you don’t laugh with some scum in the tunnel, you either ignore him or kick the sh*t out of him. Nothing else is acceptable.”
A friend of mine is a highly intelligent, sane and respected individual. Whenever a team other than his beloved Manchester United is playing he wishes only destruction on their houses. Unreasonable, inhumane, bigoted and unhinged? Of course he is. He’s a fan.
Mata’s camaraderie and admiration for the team that sold him is not what any Manchester United supporter wants to hear. If Mata has to say anything, then wish ill on Chelsea.
Mata’s blog is the verbal equivalent of the player who refuses to celebrate his goal against a former club.
The player – let’s call him Cristiano – scores. His teamates celebrate. And there he stands, head bowed in respect, alone in the frenzy. It is utterly pathetic.
In the right world, any footballer failing to wildly celebrate a goal – famously described as an act better than sex – should be red-carded and banned for six matches.
And that goes for you, too, Juan Mata. If you score against Chelsea, Manchester United fans will not respect your open-palmed apology to the opposition, and I’d wager Chelsea fans won’t either. They want you to slide across the turf and pump your fists like Mike Tyson on speed.
The United fans will love you. The Chelsea fans will regret losing you. You win. Anything else is just sad…