José Mourinho can learn lessons from the greats of the music world | Tanya Aldred

Dec 16, 2018

A top conductor gets the best out of his players and can turn a good performance from an orchestra into a great one

José Mourinho prowls the touchline at Old Trafford. Skulking, swearing, coat fully zipped against the dirtiest weather Manchester can throw at him, he glares at the pitch. Arms raised in shrugging disbelief, shoulders high, kissing his ears, then suddenly outwards, pointing with purpose, finally thrust deep into his pockets in high dudgeon. What do the players think? Do they care? For all the histrionics, he is essentially helpless, a puppeteer whose strings have been cut for 90 minutes, his one power the threat of substitution.

Not far away, at the Bridgewater Hall, Omer Meir Wellber stands in front of the orchestra. From behind, the audience see his tail-coated arms held aloft, a baton resting softly between fingers and thumb in the right hand. They can only guess at his expression as he sways, arms jackknifing, body falling and rising, falling and rising. The orchestra, though, see it all – every twitch, every eyebrow conceit, the softness in the hands, the expression in the face. His involvement is total: the performance his to command.

Conductors have to be good psychologists and get the best out of people. They dictate the speed, the volume, the emotion

Tags: Culture Football José Mourinho Music Sport