Mourinho Reveals Dramatic Escape to Real Madrid After Champions League Triumph with Inter Milan
Jose Mourinho has revealed the emotional turmoil he faced after leading Inter Milan to Champions League glory in 2010, admitting he ”ran away” to avoid being swayed to stay before taking the Real Madrid job.
Mourinho’s Revelation: Leaving Inter Milan
Mourinho described his departure, stating, “I went to the bus to say goodbye, and I didn’t even shake one hand. I wanted to escape.” The Portuguese manager feared the emotional pull of the Inter Milan faithful, stating his fear that “if I go back with them to Milan…the emotion would stop me to go.” Mourinho acknowledged the difficulty of leaving a team with whom he had forged strong bonds saying that saying goodbye to anyone of his star players like Marco Materazzi, Dejan Stankovic, Diego Milito or Julio Cesar “would have been the same story.”
the Defining Moment: Loyalty and Victory
According to Mourinho,”Creating a fiercely loyal relationship with his players off the pitch which ensured the side that stepped on the field would be comfortable both running through walls,and with their backs to the wall,” was in many ways the key to winning his two Champions League titles. The emotional moment highlights the intense loyalty Mourinho cultivated with his players, a quality he believes was instrumental in his Champions League successes.
Enduring Legacy: A Unique Achievement
Mourinho emphasized the unique nature of his champions League victories with Porto (2004) and Inter Milan, highlighting that these triumphs have not been replicated. “Why am I now here speaking with you? it is because I am a double Champions League winner,” he asserted. Mourinho contrasted his achievements with those at bigger clubs like Real Madrid or Manchester United,where Champions League wins are more frequent,stating,”You go to Porto and you go to you go to Milan and everybody knows. 2004 Champions League winner, 2010 champions League winner.Who was the coach? Mourinho.”
What motivated Jose Mourinho to leave Inter Milan so quickly after winning the Champions League?
Mourinho Reveals Dramatic Escape to Real madrid After Champions League Triumph with Inter Milan
Jose Mourinho has revealed the emotional turmoil he faced after leading Inter Milan to champions League glory in 2010, admitting he ”ran away” to avoid being swayed to stay before taking the Real Madrid job.
Mourinho’s Revelation: Leaving Inter Milan
Mourinho described his departure, stating, “I went to the bus to say goodbye, and I didn’t even shake one hand. I wanted to escape.” The Portuguese manager feared the emotional pull of the Inter Milan faithful, stating his fear that “if I go back with them to Milan…the emotion woudl stop me to go.” Mourinho acknowledged the difficulty of leaving a team with whom he had forged strong bonds saying that saying goodbye to anyone of his star players like marco Materazzi, Dejan Stankovic, Diego Milito or Julio Cesar “would have been the same story.”
The Defining Moment: Loyalty and Victory
According to Mourinho,”Creating a fiercely loyal relationship with his players off the pitch which ensured the side that stepped on the field would be comfortable both running through walls,and with their backs to the wall,” was in many ways the key to winning his two Champions League titles. The emotional moment highlights the intense loyalty Mourinho cultivated with his players, a quality he believes was instrumental in his Champions League successes.
Enduring Legacy: A Unique Achievement
Mourinho emphasized the unique nature of his champions League victories with Porto (2004) and Inter Milan, highlighting that these triumphs have not been replicated. “Why am I now hear speaking with you? it is because I am a double Champions League winner,” he asserted. Mourinho contrasted his achievements with those at bigger clubs like Real Madrid or Manchester United,where Champions League wins are more frequent,stating,”You go to Porto and you go to you go to Milan and everybody knows. 2004 Champions League winner, 2010 champions league winner.Who was the coach? Mourinho.”
Q&A: Unpacking Mourinho’s Champions League escape
Why did Mourinho ”run away” from Inter Milan after winning the Champions League?
Mourinho was deeply connected to his Inter Milan team and feared the emotional pull of staying. He knew that if he lingered, the strong relationships he’d built with the players and fans would make it unfeasible for him to leave for Real Madrid.He prioritized the next chapter of his career, even though it meant a painful goodbye.
What was the key to Mourinho’s Champions League success?
Mourinho credits his success to the strong, fiercely loyal relationships he cultivated with his players. He believes this bond allowed his teams to perform at their best, both on and off the field. This loyalty created a team that would “run through walls” for each other.
Why does Mourinho consider his Champions League wins unique?
Mourinho highlights the rarity of his achievements with Porto and Inter Milan, emphasizing that these victories haven’t been repeated by either club as. He contrasts this with the higher frequency of Champions league wins at larger clubs like real Madrid. This makes his achievements with Porto and Inter even more remarkable.
Who are some of the key players Mourinho had to say goodbye to at Inter?
Mourinho mentioned that saying goodbye to any of his star players like Marco Materazzi, Dejan Stankovic, Diego Milito, or Julio Cesar “would have been the same story,” highlighting the strong emotional bonds he had with his whole team. These players were integral to Inter Milan’s Champions League win in 2010.
Did Mourinho’s Inter Milan team have a high win rate?
Under Simone Inzaghi, Inter Milan has a 66.2% win rate, the best in the club’s history [[1](https://sempreinter.com/2025/03/07/simone-inzaghi-sets-inter-milan-champions-record-mourinho/)]This indicates a high standard of success at the club, though it’s a different era.
Mourinho’s emotional departure from Inter Milan is a testament to his dedication and the power of human connection in football. Understanding his unique journey to success offers a valuable lesson about the importance of relationships and personal growth.
