After three wins in four LaLiga matches, Real Madrid are set to kickstart their Champions League campaign tonight as they take on Inter Milan.
It will be a special game for Jose Mourinho, who famously led Inter to a treble in 2010. But this time, he will be heading Real Madrid, in what will be the first UCL game of his second stint at the club.
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The Champions League has always been an interesting story for Mourinho, as far as his career at Real Madrid is concerned.
Mourinho has unfinished business
As reported by AS, Mourinho’s first spell at Real Madrid in the Champions League was defined by near-misses, despite some remarkable individual numbers.
Mourinho has won the UCL twice but never with Real Madrid. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
The Portuguese reached the semi-finals in all three of his European campaigns with the club, only to fall short each time.
It was painful for the club, yet many believe he sowed the seeds for the success that would follow, with Real Madrid going on to win four Champions Leagues in the five years after his departure.
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Across his 36 Champions League games in charge, Mourinho recorded 24 wins, seven draws and just five defeats, a hugely impressive return. His side scored freely, particularly with Cristiano Ronaldo leading the line, and kept 16 clean sheets in that period.
A tale of three semi-finals
Mourinho’s European journey with Real Madrid was one of consistent progress but ultimate heartbreak.
Can Mourinho finally secure his third UCL this season? (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
His first season saw a solvent, effective side reach the last four, with their only home defeat coming against Barcelona.
The second campaign was arguably the peak, winning 10 of 12 matches, only to suffer an excruciating penalty shootout defeat to Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, with Cristiano and Kaka among those to miss from the spot.
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By the third and final season, however, there were signs of wear, with the numbers dipping as Real Madrid again bowed out at the semi-final stage.
Now, a new chapter begins. Mourinho returns to Europe’s elite competition with Real Madrid tasked with finishing the job he started over a decade ago.
This makes it even more important for Mourinho to start on a positive note by winning against Inter Milan, a team which has shown their pedigree at the highest level of football.
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