Jose Mourinho has given his prediction on the two teams who will reach this year’s Champions League final, which would see Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi face off on European football’s highest stage.
However, the former Manchester United coach believes there would be much more to a Juventus-Barcelona final than the individual battle between the two greatest players of their generation.
"Juventus and Barcelona are the two big candidates for this year’s Champions League, but there are also the English teams, Ajax and Porto. Everyone talks about Ronaldo and Messi, but I prefer to talk about Juventus and Barcelona. The world focuses more on the individual, but I will always be a football coach and football is a team sport,” Mourinho told France Press.
“The Bianconeri and Blaugrana, however, they have experience, talent and each have a special player. Normally, wherever these special players are, those teams end up becoming the best.”
Mourinho eager to make Champions League return
On his part, the Portuguese coach also spoke of his desire to return to managing a club in the Champions league, saying it would be “spectacular” for him to win the competition for the third time.
“I hope to return to compete in the Champions League soon, but sometimes, when you are away, you have to learn to win other things,” he said
“When I arrived at Manchester United in 2016, we were not in the Champions League and I had to win the Europa League. If I could win a third Champions League it would be spectacular, but even if I had to win a third Europa League, it wouldn’t be bad.”
MesutPjanic
237
Ohh my God if Juventus meet Barcelona in UCL final, it's one way traffic to Turin with the trophy. Guys have you noticed messi can play or deliver under pressure like cr7.Juve all the way up.The G.O.A.T will make it six for him in the UCL .
fascimtz
142
Don’t count your eggs before it hatch. Ajax beats Real Madrid at their home ground. In football anything can happen.
Nesaiknruy_Legend
101
Tbh he just chose the mainstream answer that satisfy people, what happened to the Mou that was open and more honest sounding. His answers nowadays sound very influenced by public. Me personally I think City and Barca have a good shot of meeting in the finals. Juve is hugely overestimated for out playing an off form Atletico side who also later lost to Bilbao who are 9th in La Liga. Just are a great team and will probably make semis but I dont see them as finalists. Ronaldo isn't in his prime anymore and slowly he fades in later stages of big competitions recently.
Trevorn
83
Yes that's my prediction as well. but the real question is, who would win? Would lord Messi carry barca on his back and give them their second UCL title in a decade or would Ronaldo prove to his haters that no matter what team he plays for, he is the goat of today's football. It DEFINITELY would be a thrilling final. Even though RM got knocked tf out of this seasons cl,I still am hyped to see who would win.
woweinpt
72
Jose Mourinho want a big club that will spend money to buy big name players. In other words he want a ready made club.
EnsarBurrja810
70
Wow he chose his rival teams. Barcelona was rival when he was Real Madrid manager. Juventus was rival when he was coaching inter. If his prediction is wrong he will say the god of football was on my side. Me excuses
SharkV
43
Bayern? Mou will be the one and only manager to win Champions League with different region if he take over Bayern and win.