Mourinho Dismisses Champions League Pressure in Second Real Madrid Spell

José Mourinho has rejected the idea that he carries a Champions League debt from his first spell at Real Madrid as he prepares to begin his second tenure with a European match against Inter Milan.

Asked whether he felt indebted to Real Madrid after failing to win the competition during his first spell, Mourinho said the two periods should be treated separately.

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No, it is two different spells. When I left in 2013, we won what we won and lost what we lost, and we gave it our all. And that was that. What I need to do now has nothing to do with the past.

“No, it is two different spells,” Mourinho said. “When I left in 2013, we won what we won and lost what we lost, and we gave it our all. And that was that. What I need to do now has nothing to do with the past.”

The Champions League was the only major trophy Mourinho did not win during his first period at the club, from 2010 to 2013. He also pointed to Real Madrid’s progress since his arrival in 2010, when the team was not reaching the quarter-finals and had gone a long time without appearing in a semi-final. He said the club has since won six Champions League titles.

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Back in 2010, we weren’t even reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League and it had been ages since we’d played in a semi-final. Now we’ve won six Champions League titles.