Jose Mourinho's time at Real Madrid ended badly but the Portuguese transformed the club who, until his tenure, had failed to make their mark in Europe and managed to get them back into the Champions League semi-finals.
Although he never managed to be crowned a European champion at Madrid, he has always been keen to remind people of the part he played in their turnaround.
"I think that for seven or eight years they hadn't reached the quarter-finals," he said to beIN Sports.
"They didn't play in semi-finals or quarter-finals. In my first season we had Lyon and the club was afraid.
"I couldn't understand how a club could be afraid of Lyon, who were a good team, but it was Lyon.
"We fell in the semi-finals on penalties, with Kaka, Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo - all excellent takers - failing. Then we had a record of 100 points and lost in the semi-finals on penalties."
Currently without a club, the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss is planning to be back in work for the 2019/20 season.
"I have the idea in mind to start in June at a club," he said.
"I know exactly what I don't want next season, which is why I rejected three or four offers.
"I know what I want, not in terms of a specific club, but the nature of the work and the size of the club, and that's what I'm waiting for."
Ifyjas
78
Now they are more afraid to face Ajax 🙄😏
ABDULFATAI ADESANYA
57
Well, Mourinho just said his mind anybody can say what is in his mind. it's a free world a free speech. But i must remind Mourinho of Realmadrid versus Bayern Munich second leg of the semifinals which Realmadrid hosts Bayern at the Santiago B. Mourinho lost to Bayern because he was also afraid after Bayern scored one goal in which Realmadrid was leading with two goals already. In the second half of the match Mourinho instructed Realmadrid to defend instead of them to attack more just as they did in the first half which they pulled two goals in just fifteen minutes of the first half. The game ended 3-3 aggregate before loosing to Bayern on penalty. Was it not because you were afraid you lost the match to Bayern?
sazabiku
52
Can’t wait to see him back in action.Football without him is boring