The football played by his Inter side has not always displayed the aesthetic beauty or the artistry of the Barcelona team he helped to defeat. But Mourinho showed, as he did previously
Can Mourinho beat Van Gaal to become king of Europe. with Porto in 2004, that a team galvanized by strength of purpose and collective will can overcome even the awesome talents of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
There are few sides in soccer who could travel to Camp Nou, and in front of 95,000 baying fans, prevent one of the finest attacking sides on the planet from scoring with only ten men. Inter's defense cracked at the last, but by then it was too late for Pep Guardiola's men; Mourinho had claimed his victory. For the man who once acted as translator for Barca coach Bobby Robson, no more words were needed. Instead he ran across the pitch, arm held aloft in defiant celebration, much to the ire of the Catalan faithful.
The scene is set then for a scintillating final come May 22, when German giants Bayern Munich will aim to clinch their fifth European title and Inter will look to win their first final for 38 years. Two teams with a rich array of talent will lock horns in a tussle that will captivate fans around the world, the battle will also pitch two coaches of vast experience against one another.