Welcome to It Was What It Was.
As Barcelona and Inter prepare to face off once again in this year’s Champions League semi-final, we look back at the original - a tie that shaped modern football.
Pep Guardiola vs. José Mourinho. All-out attack vs. tactical defiance. Ideology, rivalry - maybe even good vs. evil?
Fifteen years ago, Pep’s all-conquering Barcelona met Mourinho’s Inter Milan in a Champions League semi-final that didn’t just decide who reached the final - it helped define a footballing era.
In Part One, Rob and Jonathan set the scene: how Mourinho’s Inter came to challenge the most dominant team in the world, the tactics he used, the battles he fought in Italy, and how both sides arrived at this collision point chasing domestic and European glory.
Part Two drops Friday, where Rob and Jonathan break down the epic semi-final itself.
Barcelona's Football Perfection
Mourinho vs. Guardiola: A Rivalry Begins
The Dark Side of Mourinho
Star Wars Analogies and Football Tactics
Mourinho's Seven-Point Plan
Mourinho's Philosophy and Evolution
Mourinho's Journey to Inter Milan
Cultural Expectations and Pragmatic Football
Mourinho's Press Conference Antics
Mourinho's Linguistic Brilliance
Mourinho's Training Philosophy
Key Matches and Tactical Shifts
Mourinho's First Season at Inter
Transfer Drama: Stars on the Move
Barcelona's Dominance and Challenges
Inter's Journey to the Semifinals
Mourinho's Tactical Mastery
Controversies and Confrontations
The Road to the Semifinals
Setting the Stage for the Epic Semifinal
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