Guardiola wanted to be in Mourinho documentary, but was coldly rejected

A new three-part Netflix documentary series, "Mourinho," delves into the complex career of the renowned football manager José Mourinho, offering viewers an unprecedented look into his life and professional journey. Produced by Ventureland, the same company behind "Beckham" and "FIFA Uncovered," the series promises and delivers deep insights into the mind of a coach who significantly reshaped the role of a football manager.

Filmed over two and a half years, following Mourinho's dismissal from Roma, the series chronicles his rise from his meteoric success with Porto to his trophy-laden, yet often turbulent, tenures at Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid. The documentary includes exclusive access not only to Mourinho himself but also to a constellation of footballing icons such as Sir Alex Ferguson, Zlatan Ibrahimović, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, and Javier Zanetti.

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He was constantly manipulating us, and we knew it. But if you're going into a project with someone like José Mourinho and you don't feel manipulated, then we're not doing our job properly.

Directors Joe Pearlman and Miles Coleman aimed to present a balanced portrayal, confronting Mourinho with difficult questions and uncomfortable moments from his career, rather than producing a mere hagiography. Pearlman, who also serves as the narrator, admits to manipulating Mourinho during interviews, stating that feeling manipulated is a sign of doing the job correctly when working with someone like Mourinho.

One of the series' significant achievements is securing an interview with Iker Casillas, the legendary Real Madrid goalkeeper whose public falling out with Mourinho was a major event. Casillas, who was benched by Mourinho amid accusations of leaking dressing room information, shares his perspective years later. However, the absence of Pep Guardiola, Mourinho's fiercest rival, is notable. Reports suggest Guardiola wanted to be part of the documentary but had one condition, which Mourinho coldly rejected.

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When the interview finished and he left the set, we were all pinching ourselves and asking if we had really just interviewed Iker Casillas for a documentary about José Mourinho.