That joke I get. It's funny and I get it. But you can't slate your strikers in that manner and expect them to perform even better. I mean, COME THE **** ON.
It's an interesting situation. There's a small story that is from the wrong sport, but is pretty relevant.
There was an American Footballer called Lawrence Taylor, one of the finest players in his position of all time. In his third season, he was then recognised as the most dangerous player on the pitch. So the opposition began double teaming him to prevent him from playing well.
This was great for his coach, because that took away another defender and left holes in the opposition defensive line. But that coach was clever, and began telling Freeney how he was doubting him. "I got the media coming in here asking me what's wrong with Freeney. What's he doing? Why isn't he playing well? Why isn't he destroying the opposition like he used to?"
Freeney always played with a chip on his shoulder, and when he heard this he was furious. He put in more time, more effort, spent all day in the gym working. Eventually, he had a breakthrough game, obliterating two opposition players again and again. He found his coach in the tunnel after the game and tackled him to the ground, screaming "YOU CAN TELL THE MEDIA FREENEY'S HERE."
Great players don't sit around and cry when they're criticised. They raise their game and prove others wrong. Milan let Pirlo go 'cause they thought he was done. He's still tearing it up. Ferguson let Jaap Stam go, and Stam went on to have an indian summer in Italy. For all we know, it's the same with Eto'o - he's certainly the type - and Mou has previous with this given his relationship with Zlatan was founded on the latter responding to Jose's criticism and then them becoming friends.
I'm not saying this is some grand plan. I'm not even saying it's good that it's happened. What I am saying is that sometimes, these things can work out well, and I don't expect much of a difference at all. Eto'o a pro, after all.
I am very interested in what journalist did this, though. That's a huuuuuge breach of trust, I'd imagine he won't get much work any more.