With the Champions League draw providing the potential for a Barcelona vs Madrid final, I thought it would be of importance to judge their respective managers in this most enthralling battle.
They say the greats are defined by moments which have the potential to make or destroy careers.
March 10, 2004, Old Trafford.
Manchester United lead FC Porto 1-0 at Old Trafford. A 2-1 defeat in Portugal means United are set to advance on away goals to the next round of the UEFA Champions League. FC Porto forward Benni McCarthy launched a seemingly non-threatening injury time free kick right at Howard as his coach Jose Mourinho looked on. Howard made a big error, dropping the routine catch, which allowed Ricardo Costinha to score the winning goal and send Manchester United crashing out. Porto would go on to win the Champions League and put Mourinho’s name in the history books.
Wednesday 6th May 2009, Stamford Bridge.
93rd Minute. Essien fails to clear the ball, Messi passes across the area to Andres Iniesta, a first time shot, top corner goes past the flailing arms of Petr Cech. Barcelona are through to the final of the Champions League.Guardiola would go on to beat Man Utd in the final and go on to create the greatest side in world football.
These two moments in recent football history have shaped the football landscape of the present day. These significant moments changed the course of each manager’s history.
Was it fate which put these two men to heights of greatness, who now manage the two best teams in world football? Jose Mourinho was fortunate to meet and work with Bobby Robson, a manager who taught Mourinho about how to work with players, how to get the most from them. His education from Robson was invaluable and it is this relationship would gave Mourinho the opportunity to work at top clubs like Porto and Barcelona. 
Guardiola was lucky for other reasons; as a young player he was deemed by many to be too small and thus not strong enough for top level football. However, his opportunity came because of Johann Cruyff, who viewed the game differently to many. He was brought on the philosophy of total football and he brought this mentality to the Camp Nou. His view of how football should be played and of what type of player was necessary for the style to work, propelled Guardiola from the fringes to the spotlight, being Cruyff's coach on the pitch. Both managers received an education from two of the best managers in the game, both spent time at one of the greatest clubs in the world and for a short period, both worked together. One as coach, one as player. How fitting that almost twenty years later these men are regarded as the two best coaches in world football, orchestrating a battle between two of the best sides in the world.
Pre El Clasico
In the second leg of the Champions League final Guardiola's Barcelona were 3-1 down Mourinho's Inter. Many people regard this game as the one of the best lessons in coaching and tactics from Mourinho.
Down to ten men after just half an hour, Mourinho instructed his side to drop deep and create a block. They simply asked Barcelona to break them down, which they could not do, requiring two goals to qualify they only scored one. Inter did not have a single shot in the whole game. It was certainly a case of Beauty and the Beast and on this occasion, the Beast won. Mourinho had beaten the beautiful game.
It was Mourinho’s celebrations at the final whistle which would begin what was to become a hatred between Mourinho and the Camp Nou, cementing Mourinho as enemy number one.
Down to ten men after just half an hour, Mourinho instructed his side to drop deep and create a block. They simply asked Barcelona to break them down, which they could not do, requiring two goals to qualify they only scored one. Inter did not have a single shot in the whole game. It was certainly a case of Beauty and the Beast and on this occasion, the Beast won. Mourinho had beaten the beautiful game.
It was Mourinho’s celebrations at the final whistle which would begin what was to become a hatred between Mourinho and the Camp Nou, cementing Mourinho as enemy number one.
Mourinho's arrival at the Bernabeu
Since Mourinho’s appointment at Santiago Bernabeu, the media and fans have pondered, who is the greatest? Mourinho has certainly accomplished a lot in his career, however has he met in Barca and in Guardiola his equal.
In Barcelona and Real Madrid we have two of the biggest names in football history, who are currently the two best teams in world football. They possess the best two players in the world and contain the majority of the Spanish side and the FIFA world XI is covered with players from both sides. Without question, Spain are dominating international football and these teams are dominating club football.
The battle between these two sides has been going for over a century, yet has it been as heated, as explosive as the past two years. Has it ever possessed the quality that we see today? Or has it ever contained the animosity of today? El Clasico has captivated the world.
After the Inter triumph in the Champions League, the league tie between Barca and Madrid on the 29th November 2010 was billed as one of the biggest games of the season, even the decade. Which team was better? Which coach was the best?
That day was perhaps the best performance from Barcelona in Guardiola's managerial career. With the pressure from the media and fans, the previous encounter against Inter and Mourinho playing his mind games as always, it was testament to the quality of this Barcelona side when they ran out 5-0, giving Mourinho his biggest loss in his managerial career and cementing Barcelona's place as the best.
From then on, Mourinho has beaten Guardiola only once, 1-0 in the Copa Del Rey. Yet, in all other games and competitions, Barca have come out best. In Guardiola's Barca career his record against Madrid is phenomenal; six wins from seven in the league, a Spanish super cup win and a Champions League semi final win have resulted in the world believing that this side are the best in world football. Guardiola's achievements have seen his side win 14 out of 18 possible trophies, this is truly amazing.
After the Inter triumph in the Champions League, the league tie between Barca and Madrid on the 29th November 2010 was billed as one of the biggest games of the season, even the decade. Which team was better? Which coach was the best?
That day was perhaps the best performance from Barcelona in Guardiola's managerial career. With the pressure from the media and fans, the previous encounter against Inter and Mourinho playing his mind games as always, it was testament to the quality of this Barcelona side when they ran out 5-0, giving Mourinho his biggest loss in his managerial career and cementing Barcelona's place as the best.
From then on, Mourinho has beaten Guardiola only once, 1-0 in the Copa Del Rey. Yet, in all other games and competitions, Barca have come out best. In Guardiola's Barca career his record against Madrid is phenomenal; six wins from seven in the league, a Spanish super cup win and a Champions League semi final win have resulted in the world believing that this side are the best in world football. Guardiola's achievements have seen his side win 14 out of 18 possible trophies, this is truly amazing.
Has Mourinho met his match?
Jose Mourinho resembles Brian Clough; outspoken, abrasive yet adored by his players and fans. He has been very successful and has conquered many of the managerial greats with his tactics and mind games. Yet he seems forever in search of proving himself and justifying his place in the football world.
Jose Mourinho was never a great player and perhaps this is why his behaviour and demeanour, the way he garners an "us against them" mentality is a reflection of a man who has always been against it, who was perhaps never given the respect he felt he deserved.
Being referred to as the translator has had an effect on him and this was seen in the second leg of the tie with Inter at the Camp Nou; his celebration appeared more than victory, it seemed to be a way of justifying his position to the fans who perhaps never really respected him.
Mourinho has often been seen as a controversial figure in football; frequently making outspoken comments which result in him facing punishment from the footballing authorities. Mourinho invokes as much anger as respect, a man who at times lacks the humility and modesty required of a true great. His way of working has been often criticised, his mind games have riled yet also impressed many. However as of late, his actions and that of his resulting players have been less admirable. If Pepe resemble his manager does this not warrant cause for concern? Success is one thing, yet achieving it by any means is not to be admired.
Even his style and fashion have been affected, he once came across as a man full of arrogance and confident in his ability, with a look of a model on the catwalk sporting the new winter collection. Recently however, he fashion has become more casual, resembling more of a golfer than the high class manager he is. It would appear that he has met his match, in style and in football in Guardiola and he appears a defeated man.
Madrid's time now?
Madrid have been simply brilliant this season, yet against Barcelona they have shown a fear, mentally, that they cannot defeat them. The defensive style and the dirty tricks have produced more theatre than quality. Mourinho has certainly been affected by his inability to overcome this side. His often controversial ways have often found appreciation by his players, yet too often in his time at Madrid, for the first time in his career, Mourinho has been questioned by those he coaches, his style, tactics and manner have all been too much for a club who regard themselves not as the enemy of the people but the kings of the country. This is not behaviour befitting of a king.
Madrid will win the league this season, no doubt about it, and will probably score more goals than ever before. The Champions League is still a possibility too, however, no matter what Madrid win this year, if they cannot beat Barcelona then will their success be soured? I think so.
More than winning
These two managers are the best in world football today, they deserve nothing but respect and acclaim for what they have achieved in their short careers. Mourinho has done excellently, and his success is unprecedented, like Sacchi he has built his reputation for being a great coach not from being a great player. He is unquestionably one of the greats. Yet has he inspired the world of football as much as Guardiola has? Guardiola is a man who has a desire and drive to achieve success, he is different Mourinho however, he believes in attacking football, with the importance on ball retention. He believes and trusts in youth development, not like Mourinho who distrusts inexperience, this is why if Pep decided to leave Camp Nou, then he would be the ideal candidate to replace Ferguson at Old Trafford instead of Mourinho.
In another generation Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho would dominate world football, however in this era there is a player and a coach who exceed even their abilities. Leo Messi and Guardiola were crowned the best player and coach this year, confirming that they truly are the best. It was fitting that both Ronaldo and Mourinho came runners up. In my opinion this is completely justified, both player and coach have taken football and winning to a new level.
Those who believe anyone could do the job at Camp Nou are delusional, he is one of the best tacticians in the game today, outthinking the “Special One” on more than several occasions. Pep Guardiola, is the antithesis of Mourinho, in his manner, in his approach to the game and how he handles the media. He has fashioned a style which has mesmerised fans and received acclaim over the whole world, this takes something very special to garner this kind of respect.
The domestic league is almost irrelevant this season, what is key is the Champions League. Both sides have the potential to get to the final and the victor will be regarded as the best. If Barcelona do it then they will undoubtedly be regarded as the best team in the history of football, better than the Ajax side of the early 70's, the Liverpool side of the 80's and the Milan of the early 90's.
In the 1970’s Rinus Michels had a dream about how football should be played, yet he did not get the relative success his style deserved. What he did was put in place a way of playing football that was taken from Holland to Catalonia, and it is from those foundations built over twenty years ago that we witness a side today who epitomise his vision, playing football in a way that is so simple, yet so beautiful.
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