Masterclass 2 min read

José Mourinho

José Mourinho
Photography by Tom Oldham
Author
Tony Hodson
Published on
February 1 2022

Champions League Semi Final First Leg, April 20 2010

Inter Milan 3Barcelona 1

Sneijder (30), Maicon (48), Milito (60)

Pedro (19)

José Mourinho was recruited by Inter Milan in the summer of 2008, having left Chelsea towards the start of the previous season. In the space of two years, the Portuguese led the Nerazzuri to the Champions League title that had long eluded them, winning European football's elite competition for the second time as manager, six years after inspiring Porto to do the same.

Speaking exclusively to The Coaches’ Voice, Mourinho reveals how it was his team beat Pep Guardiola's Barcelona – widely considered the best club team in history – 3-1 in the first leg of their Champions League semi final. He offers particular insight into their approach to against Lionel Messi, and how they capitalised on the space behind Barça’s attacking full-backs.

Inter’s victory in the final over Bayern Munich gave them their first European Cup since 1965 on an historic night for the club.

Starting line-ups
Inter MilanBarcelona
1242561319827109221235191661591017
Inter Milan4-2-3-1
Barcelona4-3-3
12Julio Cesar
1Victor Valdes
13Maicon
2Dani Alves
6Lucio
3Gerard Piqué
25Walter Samuel
5Carles Puyol
4Javier Zanetti
19Maxwell
8Thiago Motta
16Sergio Busquets
19Esteban Cambiasso
6Xavi Hernández
9Samuel Eto'o
15Seydou Keïta
10Wesley Sneijder
10Lionel Messi
27Goran Pandev
17Pedro
22Diego Milito
9Zlatan Ibrahimovic