Jose Mourinho, one of football’s most iconic managers, has revealed that the most emotional win of his career came during the 2010 Champions League semi-final, when Inter Milan faced Barcelona.
In the BBC documentary series How to Win the Champions League, Mourinho reflected on the second leg of the semi-final, where Inter held onto a 3-1 aggregate lead despite being reduced to 10 men. Thiago Motta was sent off in the 28th minute, leaving the Italian side to defend resolutely against Pep Guardiola’s dominant Barcelona. It wasn’t until the 84th minute that Gerard Piqué scored to halve the aggregate deficit, but Inter managed to hang on, securing a famous win.
Mourinho described the victory as one of the most emotional moments in his career, saying, “It meant to beat, at that time, the best team in Europe. The situation of nobody believing it could be possible gives you extra motivation. Playing with 10 men for so long made it something absolutely incredible.”
That victory was a defining moment for Mourinho, not only because of the achievement against one of football’s best teams, but also because it showcased his more pragmatic approach to the game over Guardiola’s free-flowing possession-based style. This win set the stage for a future rivalry with Guardiola when Mourinho moved to Real Madrid.
Though Mourinho’s recent tenure at Fenerbahçe has seen struggles, including a surprising Europa League exit to Rangers, his side remains in the hunt for the Turkish league title, trailing Galatasaray by just three points. If Mourinho can inspire Fenerbahçe to silverware, it could reignite his career at the top stages of European football.
