15 years later, we will have another Inter Milan vs Barcelona clash in the Champions League semifinals.

But the one from 2010 was THE match-up. One of the most epic clashes in the history of the Champions League.

The match-up that marked a football era: [A thread] There was no doubt these were the 2 best teams in the world.

Pep's Barcelona with the most talented squad of all time. Mourinho's Inter with a team full of 'old rejects' that, somehow, worked perfectly.

Both fighting for a place in the Bernabeu final.

It's April 2011. The Champions League, La Liga and Spanish Cup all to decide.

All between Mourinho's Real Madrid and Pep's Barcelona, with Cristiano and Messi at their best.

4 games in 18 days. Fights, meltdowns, iconic moments.

Some might say football peaked here.
[A thread]
• 1st game - April 16th

La Liga matchday 32, Santiago Bernabeu

The pressure is on Real Madrid, as they trail by 8 points to a near perfect Barcelona campaign. Real Madrid needs to win.

Due to the high stakes, Mourinho starts the mind games early.

My prediction on how Rúben Amorim's arrival will impact some of Manchester United's players, based on watching him work for 5 years at Sporting: [a thread] First off, for some context here is Rúben Amorim himself summing up the evolution of his own system in 2 minutes.

This is just a sum up, but the system is simple.

https://x.com/Iconic_Amorim/status/1857808533699326040?t=Fa8TX5gHy94eFBkZhHT_Kw&s=19

In 2020, Sporting were 4th, hadn't won the league in 18 years, and were in a huge crisis.

And then they found a coach who worked miracles.

How Rúben Amorim turned Sporting back to the biggest team in Portugal, and how he will lead Manchester United back to victory: [A thread]
1 • Downplaying the pressure.

The first thing Amorim did was to establish with honesty where the club was at.

When asked if he aimed to win the league, he would say he only aimed to win the next game.

He lowered his standards momentarily to meet the club's current state.

José Mourinho explaining some of the most important principles in football:

1. Compact defending. 2. Anticipation to the loss of ball possession.

José Mourinho speaking openly about the El Classico, Messi and Cristiano and the match that gave Real Madrid the La Liga title at the Camp Nou. [Thread]

Take the time of your day to watch this, it's worth it.

Some of football's biggest names had an easier path to the top, others were never favorites to succeed.

From failing as a player, to teaching at schools, to being Bobby Robson's "translator" at Barça… to becoming an all time great.

The unknown rise of José Mourinho: [a thread] José Mourinho always wanted to be in football.

He grew up with his father being a coach.

"My father took a small club to the Cup final. He had offers to move on but he had a big heart and stayed. A few months later, he was sacked." ... "On Christmas day."

Football is tough.

Absurd football records held by José Mourinho that may never be broken: [a thread]

• 9 years, 1 month and 11 days undefeated at home in league matches (2002-2011)

• 15 goals conceded in a Premier League season (Chelsea, 2004/05)
...

• Fastest manager to reach 50 La Liga wins: 62 games

• Fastest manager to reach 50 Premier League wins: 63 games

• Fastest manager to reach 50 Serie A wins: 77 games

• Only manager to reach a final at 7 European clubs

• Only manager to win a final at 6 European clubs

Alright, so Roma draw Feyenoord in Europe for the THIRD consecutive year.

Let's take a quick look at José Mourinho's shithousery last season and at why this will be much funnier than people think...😂

[Thread]
Roma and Feyenoord met in the 2022 UECL final.

Roma won their first European trophy, Mourinho ended the 14 year trophy drought and Feyenoord...

...cried a lot. The following season was a river of complaints about Mourinho.

And then they met again in the 2023 Europa League...😂

Among all of the good transfers and unexpected successes we've seen in football, there is one that stands out.

Throwback to when Inter played Barcelona and Mourinho played Pep.

Why the Eto'o/Ibrahimović swap deal is the greatest instant bargain in football history.

[Thread]

2008/09 season.

Mourinho was at Inter Milan, trying to win the Champions League for the club for the first time in 40 years.

Inter won the Serie A, but went out of Europe in the Ro16.

Inter counted on the (big) help of a 27 year old Zlatan Ibrahimović.

In 2010, Barcelona were ruling football, with Pep leading that young Barça dream team.

Barça 3peated La Liga, won the sextuple, won 2 UCLs in 3 years and didn't show any signs of stopping.

Two years later, Pep had left Barça and it was all over. Why?

It started here.

[Thread] Before this huge and infamous ball of crap that gave us the most intense rivalry that modern football has had, the Mourinho/Pep question was first put in 2008.

Quick note: Barcelona were deciding on who their next coach would be, Mourinho and Pep were the final 2 candidates.

A long list of absurd football records held by José Mourinho that may never be broken or even matched: [a thread]

• 121 goals scored in the La Liga in a single season, Real Madrid, 2011/12

• 15 goals conceded in the Premier League in a single season, Chelsea, 2004/05 • 100 La Liga points (joint), Real Madrid, 2011/12

• 32 La Liga wins (joint), Real Madrid, 2011/12

• Highest ever goal difference in La Liga (+89), Real Madrid, 2011/12

• 9 years, 1 month and 11 days undefeated at home in league matches, for multiple clubs [2002-2011]

Some of José Mourinho's scouting reports on the Barcelona players were leaked [via Daily Mirror]. The reports were from 2006, ahead of the Chelsea vs Barcelona match for the Champions League.

The leaked reports analysed Ronaldinho, Puyol, Messi, Iniesta and Eto'o. [A thread] Ronaldinho: "Dangerous between lines. Very poor in defensive transition and work, exploit. Constant cheater, falls easily."