Top 5 matches where Jose Mourinho tactically outwitted the opposition

Jose Mourinho: A serial winnerJose Mourinho is a man who polarizes opinions. At one end of the spectrum, we have players who are willing to run their socks off and give everything they have for him like Marco Materazzi, John Terry or Zlatan Ibrahimovic. But at the same time, we have players such as Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos or Cesc Fabregas who clearly did not see eye-to-eye when it came to his methods.However, if there is one thing everyone will agree upon is the fact that Mourinho is a winner. He just knows how to win and he is a man you would rather have on your side than the in the opposition dugout. We look at five matches where Mourinho masterminded a victory against all odds.

#5 Champions League: Chelsea 0-1 Inter Milan (Agg 1-3)

Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge and claimed a win with his treble winning Inter Milan side

Taking an aggregate lead of 2-1 heading into Stamford Bridge is never easy. When Jose Mourinho took his Inter Milan side to London, his side produced a workmanlike yet effective performance snuffing out the Chelsea challenge with consummate ease.

Mourinho's Inter were able to keep a subdued Chelsea at arm's length for the majority of a tense evening littered with fouls and spells of ill-feeling. A Samuel Eto’o strike settled the encounter with 11 minutes remaining and gave Inter a memorable and glorious 1-0 win away from home.

Having spent a trophy-laden three-and-a-half year spell at Chelsea, Mourinho’s reaction was relatively subdued compared to his other victories. But no one could deny that the former Blues manager had dished out a commanding tactical performance which was one among many in his storied career.

#4 EPL: Liverpool 0-2 Chelsea

A disconsolate Steven Gerrad looks on as his title hopes ‘slip’ away

27 April 2014 was supposed to be the moment Liverpool confirmed their first ever Premier League title triumph. Instead, Mourinho brought his ‘A’ game to the table and denied Steven Gerrard and Liverpool that chance. The Reds’ always try and start by scoring quickly but failed on the day as they faced a wall of blue shirts. A 4-5-1 formation saw Chelsea’s midfield sitting very deep to ensure their back four was protected.

Having threatened to field a weakened side ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League final, Mourinho produced another tactical masterclass to earn all three points. Players like Kalas came into the game and played like seasoned veterans.

An assured display by Chelsea along with a disjointed display from Liverpool epitomised by the infamous Gerrard slip led to Mourinho’s team snapping a 16-match unbeaten streak for the Reds. The image of Mourinho thumping his chest to the away supporters in Anfield still haunts the Liverpool supporters to this day.

#3 Copa del Rey: Real Madrid 1-0 Barcelona

Pepe was played in midfield as Real Madrid shut out Barcelona 1-0 in the Spanish Cup final

Jose Mourinho’s first trophy at Real Madrid was a memorable one as the Blancos outwitted familiar foes Barcelona in a foul-ridden Copa Del Rey final in 2011. Playing Pepe in midfield alongside Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira proved to be a tactical masterstroke as the attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and David Villa were stifled and suffocated throughout the match.

As soon as one of them received the ball, a Real duo would attempt to dispossess the ball either legally or illegally. The tactics made Barca look laboured and increasingly frustrated. With Messi being man-marked by at least two men whenever he received the ball, Barcelona ran out of ideas and could not find any holes through Real’s watertight defence.

The victory was Real's first over Barca since May 2008 and it meant that Mourinho had won a trophy every year since 2003.

#2 Champions League: Manchester United 1-1 Porto (Agg 2-3)

Costinha’s last gasp equaliser knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League

On 9 March 2004, the world first started to take notice of Jose Mourinho as his band of merry men in Porto caused a huge shock by knocking out their much-fancied opponents Manchester United from the Champions League. Leading 2-1 from the first leg, Mourinho came to Old Trafford knowing that a tricky match awaited Porto away from home.

Things got much tougher when Paul Scholes put United ahead in the first half. With Mourinho manically pushing his men till the final minute, Porto finally cracked open the United defence with an error from their then goalkeeper Tim Howard, gifting Porto a last minute equaliser.

The unfancied Porto went on to create history that season by winning the Champions League, but it all started for Mourinho and his players on that chilly night in Manchester as the world started to take notice of this truly “special” manager.

#1 Champions League: Barcelona 1-0 Inter Milan (Agg 2 - 3)

A heroic defensive performance from Inter broke Barcelona’s hearts in 2010

Probably the most glorious loss in Inter’s history, the 2010 Champions League semi-final second leg match was an amazing spectacle. Winning ugly never looked more beautiful with Inter putting a sensationally stoic defensive show to thwart the defending champions and progress to the final on aggregate.

Coming to the Camp Nou on the back of a 3-1 home win in the first leg, Inter were dealt a severe blow when Thiago Motta was given his marching orders with more than an hour left to play. What followed was a defensive miracle as Inter famously shut shop and played with all 10 men defending.

This was further testimony to the Portuguese manager's claims to be ‘The Special One’ as his side’s tactics, belief and resolve withstood a home onslaught that saw Barca run out of ideas until Gerard Pique's goal.

The goal set up a frantic final few minutes which Inter rode out. The final whistle was followed by scenes of delirious celebrations as Mourinho silenced the Camp Nou crowd with this defensive masterclass.