Jose Mourinho praises Barcelona and recalls special Camp Nou years: ‘One of the best clubs after Real Madrid’ | OneFootball

Jose Mourinho may have returned to Real Madrid, but Barcelona still occupies a special place in the Portuguese coach’s career.

Speaking in his first major interview since taking charge at Real Madrid, Mourinho reflected on his years at Barcelona, his relationship with Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique, and the unforgettable El Clasico era that helped define modern football.

The interview with Vanity Fair comes at a time when the Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry remains one of the biggest attractions in world football. 

While Mourinho is now preparing for a new chapter at the Santiago Bernabeu, his latest comments show that his connection to Barcelona has never completely disappeared.

Mourinho looks back on his Barcelona days

Before becoming one of football’s most successful managers, Mourinho spent several years at Barcelona as part of Bobby Robson’s coaching staff.

Those years allowed him to work closely with players who would later become elite coaches themselves, including former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola and current Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique.

Reflecting on that period, Mourinho explained: “I was a young assistant. Pep and Luis, at that time, were just players.

“I was a long way from where I would end up. I think Pep and Luis were only thinking about their football careers and not their careers as coaches.

“Now we’re all Champions League winners. But back then, honestly, we were just trying to do our best work.

“Of course, I could tell that Pep was a very intelligent player—from the way he played, from how he read the game.

Mourinho has nothing but praise for Barcelona. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

“Of course, I could tell that Luis was a leader, that Luis was a motivator. I could sense that, too. But at that moment, you don’t think about that; you just think about giving it your all.”

Mourinho still has affection for Barcelona

Despite becoming one of Real Madrid’s most iconic managers, Mourinho made it clear that he still remembers his time in Catalonia fondly.

The Portuguese coach highlighted the personal significance Barcelona holds for his family and rejected the idea that the rivalry created any lasting resentment.

“We had a wonderful time in Barcelona. My daughter moved to Barcelona when she was just one month old. My son was born in Barcelona.

“But football is football, and I played against Barcelona countless times, starting at Chelsea before moving to Inter.

“Important Champions League matches with Chelsea, then important Champions League matches with Inter, and then I went to Real Madrid. I think it was fate that brought us together.

“Ultimately, I won’t deny that I love Real Madrid, and that’s why I’m returning. But I harbour no ill feelings towards Barcelona.

“I simply enjoy playing against them because, in football, you enjoy playing against the best. The best players push you to be better.”

Barcelona remain football’s ultimate benchmark

Mourinho has looked back at his Barcelona days. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

One of the most notable aspects of Mourinho’s interview was the respect he continued to show towards Barcelona’s place in football history.

Even while defending his own achievements at Real Madrid, Mourinho acknowledged the reputation Barcelona built through generations of successful teams and legendary players.

He also revisited the golden era of El Clasico, when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo transformed Barcelona vs Real Madrid into a global spectacle.

Looking back on those encounters, Mourinho said, “People don’t watch El Clasico the way they used to. The world would come to a standstill. It wasn’t just about Madrid and Barcelona, or even Spain.

“It was the whole world. People would eagerly await those matches. Of course, Cristiano and Messi were icons. They were the two best players in the world. Real Madrid is the best club in the world.

“Barcelona is one of the best clubs in the world after Real Madrid. Honestly, it was madness. I think it’s a bit like Nadal versus Federer or Nadal versus Djokovic.

“Although tennis now has promising young players, those who love the sport remember those years as something special. Those classics were special too,” he concluded.