Jose Mourinho admits that the match between Barcelona and Inter Milan at the Camp Nou was “one of his most emotional matches.”

The current Fenerbahce and former Inter, Roma, Real Madrid, and Chelsea coach looked back on the match speaking to the BBC.

Inter Milan take on Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals next week.

The first leg will be at the Camp Nou in Catalonia.

That is a stadium where Inter have plenty of memories, both positive and negative.

At this very same stage of the Champions League in 2010, the Nerazzurri played the second leg of a tie against the Blaugranas at the Camp Nou.

And it was one of the most iconic matches in Inter’s history.

The Nerazzurri had to hold on with ten men for the majority of the match. It was an intense effort, but they held on for a 1-0 loss that was as good as a win thanks to a 3-1 first leg advantage.

Mourinho: “Barcelona Vs Inter Milan At The Camp Nou One Of My Most Emotional Matches”

José Mourinho
GENOA, ITALY – OCTOBER 17: José Mourinho therefore head coach. of Roma greets the crowd prior to kick-off in the however. Serie A match between UC Sampdoria and AS Roma at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on October 17, 2022 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

It was Jose Mourinho who was on the touchline for Inter Milan in that match.

And the Portuguese tactician stated that “If I could choose one of my team’s most emotional performances in my career of more than 20 years, I have to choose that one.”

“We go to Barcelona and we know what was waiting for us in terms of atmosphere and the amazing quality of that team.”

“To play with 10 players in Barcelona becomes epic. You need heroes. You need to have the best out of everybody.”

“I think I was brilliant in the way I organised the team.”

“We defended with everything we had. With hearts. With souls.”

“This is the most beautiful defeat of my career,” said Jose Mourinho.

“We gave absolutely everything. We lost 1-0. But we got to the final.”

José Mourinho – I Ran Away From Inter

Massimo Moratti José Mourinho Inter Milan Champions League
Inter Milan’s Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho (L) and Inter Milan’s president Massimo Moratti celebrate after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match Inter Milan against Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 22, 2010. Inter Milan won the Champions League with a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the final at the Santiago Bernabeu. Argentine striker Diego Milito scored both goals for Jose Mourinho’s team who completed a treble of trophies this season. AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOPHE SIMON (Photo credit should read CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty Images)

In conclusion, José Mourinho then revealed why he left Inter Milan in the manner that he did.

“I ran away, I went to the bus to say goodbye, and I didn’t even shake one hand,” Mourinho says.

“I wanted to escape, I think if I get on to the bus, if I go back with them to Milan, if I walk into a full San Siro, if I walk into the Duomo [Milan Cathedral] full of people, I think I wouldn’t go to Real Madrid.

“The emotion would stop me to go.

“But I wanted to go. I thought it was the right moment. I had to escape.

“Marco was there. If instead of Marco it was Dejan Stankovic, or Diego Milito or Julio Cesar, it would have been the same story.”