Jose Mourinho’s return to the Champions League with Real Madrid could hardly have produced a more fitting opening opponent than Inter Milan, the club he guided to European glory in 2010.
Sixteen years ago, Mourinho stood on the Santiago Bernabeu pitch celebrating Inter’s 2-0 Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich. The triumph was the Portuguese manager’s second European title after winning the competition with Porto in 2004 and marked the final game of his hugely successful spell in Milan.
Only days later, Mourinho was appointed Real Madrid manager for the first time. Now he is back in the Bernabeu dugout, with Inter arriving in Madrid for Tuesday’s Champions League meeting.
Real Madrid vs Inter brings Mourinho back to Europe
The Real Madrid vs Inter clash represents an important early examination of Mourinho’s second spell at the Spanish giants. The club have brought him back with the expectation that his experience and winning mentality can help restore Real Madrid as a major force in European football.
During his first spell between 2010 and 2013, Mourinho won the Copa del Rey and La Liga. His Real Madrid side also reached three consecutive Champions League semi-finals but failed to progress to the final.
Barcelona eliminated Real Madrid in 2011, Bayern Munich won a penalty shootout in 2012 and Borussia Dortmund ended their run in 2013. Mourinho subsequently departed without delivering the Champions League trophy that the club had been targeting.
The manager insists those previous disappointments should have no bearing on his current return.
“At Real Madrid, I’m going through two different periods,” Mourinho said. He described his previous departure in 2013 as a closed chapter and said the upcoming match against Inter had nothing to do with his earlier spell.
Mourinho has returned after what he described as a difficult season for the club, making stability and consistency key priorities.
He also stressed that expectations at Real Madrid remain unchanged, saying the club must continue to win because of its status and history.
Mbappe backs Mourinho’s winning experience
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe believes Mourinho’s extensive career at the highest level can provide an important advantage.
Mbappe said the Portuguese manager knows how to win, build a strong team environment and motivate players. That experience is one of the major reasons Real Madrid have turned to Mourinho as they attempt to challenge for major trophies again.
The pressure will be immediate, however, after Real Madrid suffered a weekend defeat by Real Betis.
Mourinho felt his team created enough attacking opportunities but failed to convert them into goals. Mbappe, whose stoppage-time penalty was saved by Real Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles, accepted responsibility for improving his finishing.
Despite the setback, Mbappe said the team remained calm and was focused on beginning its Champions League campaign positively.
Inter provide a difficult opening challenge Real Madrid vs Inter
Inter are a particularly significant opponent for Mourinho because of their shared history. The Portuguese coach remains deeply connected to the Italian club and has acknowledged his desire to meet people from his former team before and after the match.
However, once the game begins, Mourinho said his priority will be Real Madrid.
He does not expect Tuesday’s result to determine the entire Champions League campaign, with seven league-phase matches still remaining. Nevertheless, he recognises that every point could prove important and expects Inter to arrive determined to collect a result.
Mourinho’s famous Inter memories return Real Madrid vs Inter
The meeting also brings back memories of one of the most famous moments of Mourinho’s Inter career.
Following Inter’s Champions League semi-final victory over Barcelona in 2010, Mourinho celebrated on the Camp Nou pitch as the stadium’s sprinklers were activated.
The image of Mourinho running across the pitch while the sprinklers sprayed water became one of the defining pictures of Inter’s memorable Champions League campaign.
Inter eventually defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 in the final at the Santiago Bernabeu, completing a historic treble and giving Mourinho his second Champions League title.
The connection between Mourinho and Inter remains strong enough that an Italian journalist presented him with a small garden sprinkler during his latest press conference, referencing that famous night in Barcelona.
Now, 16 years after Mourinho lifted the Champions League trophy in Madrid with Inter, the Italian side returns to the Bernabeu as his first major European opponent in his latest attempt to restore Real Madrid to the top of the continent.
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