Mourinho's Champions League drought faces test at Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho begins his second stint as Real Madrid manager with a Champions League match against Inter. He has not won a knockout tie in the competition since 2014. Madrid have won six European Cups since he left, while Mourinho has struggled to progress.
The scheduling holds historical irony, as Mourinho arrives at the Bernabeu facing Inter, the club he guided to a treble before his initial Madrid appointment. That first tenure ended with three consecutive semi-final exits, while the club has since captured six European crowns without him.
His post-2014 record shows a series of frustrating eliminations. Chelsea lost to PSG despite an early red card, Manchester United fell to Sevilla after a cautious display, and Tottenham were routed by RB Leipzig. His only recent European silverware came in a secondary competition with Roma.
A strong run could restore Mourinho's reputation as an elite European tactician, potentially influencing how other top clubs view veteran coaches. Conversely, an early exit may reinforce perceptions that modern football has evolved past his methods. For Real Madrid supporters, success would validate a controversial return, while failure could intensify scrutiny on the club's leadership decisions and their long-term sporting strategy.