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Cruyff weary of Mourinho's act

By Agence France Presse In London | China Daily | Updated: 2015-10-08 08:47

The behavior of outspoken Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho sets a bad example for young people, Dutch soccer legend Johan Cruyff said on Tuesday.

Mourinho has hogged the headlines over the opening weeks of the Premier League season, lashing 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 criticizing the referee after a 3-1 loss at home to Southampton on the weekend that left his squad 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 in the first row," Cruyff told British television channel Sky Sports News.

"He should be in 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 them for life.

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

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

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

"Results, I think, are secondary. The game comes 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 is the fans, that people are going home happy. It's their time off and you should give them something to enjoy."

 Cruyff weary of Mourinho's act

Outspoken Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is setting a bad example for youth, according to Dutch soccer legend Johann Cruyff.Reuters

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