Real Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho Isn't Ruining Spanish Football

In the aftermath of last night's explosive Clasico, Barcelona defender Gerard Pique laid blame for the all-out brawl that marred the Super Copa clash against Real Madrid firmly at the door of Jose Mourinho.

The Spanish World Cup winner, having safely made it off the pitch and into the post-match press conference, claimed that the Real Madrid coach is "wrecking Spanish football."

He added: "People are looking for culprits but they are in Madrid. Someone needs to get the video, analyze it and say who is to blame."

Strong words, yet it's difficult to see sense in them.

On the face of it, blame for the incident would appear to lie chiefly with the hot-headed Marcelo, for his horrific lunge on Cesc Fabregas. It was both unnecessary and dangerous, and could easily have put the debutant on crutches. The Brazilian paid instantly for his indiscretion and was quickly sent to the dressing room.

That should have been that. But it wasn't.

Fingers should also be pointed at the players and staff of both teams who escalated the situation with their petty reactions to the initial tackle. Mourinho was certainly among those perpetrators, but to lay the blame solely on him is unfair. It was a mass brawl. Has anyone ever successfully taken part in a one-man mass brawl?

Clearly what Pique meant was that it is Mourinho's perceived rough-and-ready tactics when facing the artisans of Barcelona that are killing the game.

However, that is also an unfair accusation. It's highly doubtful that Mourinho communicated to Marcelo, either before or during the match, to go out and break someone's leg. The wing-back acted on his own accord, plain and simple. No manager can account for that.

As for the tactics that Madrid have recently employed against Barcelona: As long as they are within the laws of the game, Pique can have no complaints. For 90 minutes at the Camp Nou, Madrid played within the laws of the game.

Barcelona are on such a level that even the best teams cannot play them at their own game. A different approach is required, as Mourinho and Madrid know. So, too, do Alex Ferguson and Manchester United.

Robust? Spoiling? Cynical? Perhaps a bit of all three. But let's not forget that Barca, for all their wonderful football, are no strangers to a touch of cynicism themselves. Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano, anyone? Even Lionel Messi has not escaped accusations of taking the odd dive.

Interestingly, Pique himself admitted it had been a fantastic game until the bust-up, so we can safely say it was an isolated incident, uncharacteristic of the 90 minutes of play that preceded it.

"We hope that on Thursday everyone will be talking about a great game of football and not the melee," he said.

Sorry Gerard, no chance.

He's right, though—it certainly was a corker of a match—so how exactly can Mourinho be accused of killing the Spanish game?

If anything, Spanish football has received a shot in the arm since he arrived at the Bernabeu. He may wind people up the wrong way at times, but there is no doubt he makes things a little more interesting.

At the moment, the intensity between the two clubs is incredible. Their rivalry is at its scintillating peak, as is the quality of the football being played. The next Clasico has become a must-see event. How can that be bad for Spanish football?

Barcelona are undoubtedly the best team in the world at the moment. Mourinho, as the coach of their biggest rivals, is tasked with doing what he can to change the balance of power. Any less than that and he would be neglecting his duties.

Clearly, he already has Barcelona rattled and the season hasn't even started yet.

It's about time the champions got used to him and stopped bleating about how he is "wrecking" the game.

He is not. Spanish football has never been more compelling.