Former Ally Mourinho Blocks Real Madrid's Path to Champions League Knockout Stage
Real Madrid seek to secure a direct spot in the Champions League last 16 against Benfica on Wednesday, yet their path is obstructed by the controversial ex-manager Jose Mourinho.
The experienced Portuguese manager holds faint chances of guiding Benfica to the play-off stage, requiring a win alongside favourable outcomes elsewhere, though personal satisfaction suffices as motivation against Alvaro Arbeloa's 15-time European winners.
Mourinho failed to claim the Champions League during his stint at Madrid from 2010 to 2013, a time when Barcelona dominated domestically and in Europe.
His counterpart at Estadio da Luz is ex-Madrid defender Arbeloa, a devoted supporter from Mourinho's tenure.
Despite their solid past bond, the typically provocative Mourinho has seemingly criticised Arbeloa before the fixture.
"For me, it is surprising that managers without a track record receive chances to lead the biggest clubs globally," Mourinho remarked last week, seen as a jab at Arbeloa's selection to succeed Xabi Alonso in January.
Arbeloa, previously in charge of Madrid's reserves, marks this as his initial senior team role. The 43-year-old Spaniard replied positively to Mourinho's comments.
"Everyone knows Mourinho's importance to me. When someone like him speaks, particularly him, I pay attention and reflect on it," he stated.
During his debut press briefing as Madrid's coach, Arbeloa mentioned carrying Mourinho "within him" and described working under the Portuguese as an "honour and privilege".
Arbeloa indicated he aims to remain authentic instead of mimicking the 63-year-old.
"It is true that I do not fear failure, and never have, but I am certain that attempting to emulate Jose Mourinho would lead to utter failure," he added.
Madrid exited the Copa del Rey against second-division Albacete in Arbeloa's opening game, but they have triumphed in the subsequent three, featuring a 6-1 rout of Monaco.
Positioned third in the league phase standings, a win guarantees advancement to the last 16, bypassing the play-offs, and securing home advantage in the second leg.
Madrid advanced post-Mourinho, yet elements of his style have resurfaced, especially lately with frequent complaints about Spanish refereeing.
Mourinho's defensive mindset has been adopted by president Florentino Perez, and Arbeloa's role brings back certain Portuguese influences.
The current Benfica coach pushed for a counter-attacking approach at Madrid, and Arbeloa admits ignoring that would be unwise.
"I must not oppose the players' natural tendencies, quite the contrary, I need to exploit them," Arbeloa noted after the Villarreal victory on Saturday.
Declining Fortunes
Mourinho, one of the few managers Perez respects, has encountered Real Madrid only once since departing in 2013.
Managing Manchester United in 2017, he suffered a 2-1 loss to Madrid in the European Super Cup final in Macedonia.
In the initial years after Madrid, rumours of a comeback surfaced periodically, but Perez refrained, recognising potential drawbacks.
Mourinho intensified the Madrid-Barcelona feud to new levels in contemporary football, notably jabbing Barcelona assistant Tito Vilanova in the eye amid a scuffle after a 2011 Spanish Super Cup loss.
His intense methods and expectations also caused rifts within the Madrid squad.
Following peaks at Porto, Chelsea, and Inter Milan that brought him to Madrid, Mourinho's trajectory has declined.
He secured the Europa League with Manchester United in 2017 amid challenges there, prior to underwhelming periods at Tottenham, Roma, and Fenerbahce.
Benfica hired him in September to revive fortunes, but multiple Champions League losses threaten an early continental departure.
In the domestic league, Benfica languish third, trailing leaders Porto significantly, who eliminated them from the Portuguese Cup in January, infuriating supporters.
Amid these issues, Madrid's trip to Lisbon offers Mourinho a chance to reclaim some authority, if only briefly, against a club that remembers him vividly.