Mourinho, Inter and Champions League: Can he deliver again at Real Madrid?

When José Mourinho arrived at Real Madrid in 2010, the objective was clear: surpass Barcelona, win La Liga and, above all, deliver the club’s 10th European Cup. He did collect silverware—Real lifted the Copa del Rey in 2011 and La Liga in 2012, while his side reached three consecutive Champions League semi‑finals. Yet they could not advance beyond that stage, falling to Barcelona in 2011, to Bayern Munich on penalties in 2012 and to Borussia Dortmund in 2013. Mourinho departed in 2013 without securing the Champions League trophy the club coveted. He insists that his earlier tenure should not dictate what happens now. “At Real Madrid, I'm going done 2 antithetic periods,” Mourinho said. “I ended moving for Real Madrid successful 2013... This is simply a closed chapter. This lucifer against Inter has thing to bash with the past.” Mourinho has returned to a side that endured what he described as a “very analyzable season” and where stability is now essential. “What I've recovered astatine Real Madrid is what I've ever recovered here,” helium said. “The champion nine successful the world.” He added, “Obviously successful the Bernabeu, I've won the Champions League, I've mislaid a Champions League semi-final done penalties, but I've had the champion and the worst successful this stadium.” “I'm not reasoning astir this. I deliberation that I'm the manager of Real Madrid and a Champions League crippled is going to happen.” He also acknowledged the need to rebuild a stable foundation after a demanding campaign. “Real is Real and astatine Real Madrid, you person to win,” Mourinho added. That pressure, he noted, is nothing new to him. His appeal to Real Madrid rests partly on his experience managing elite dressing rooms and, crucially, on knowing what it takes to win the Champions League. Kylian Mbappé offered a comparable assessment when asked whether Mourinho had been brought in to restore authority. “Mourinho brings his full career,” Mbappe said. “He is simply a feline who knows however to win, to person a radical astir him and helium knows astur giving information to the full group.”