Jose Mourinho has revealed he and Samuel Eto'o "fought every day" before a crucial match in Inter's 2010 Champions League triumph.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Jose Mourinho explained how his treatment of Samuel Eto’o prior to Inter’s Champions League last-16 clash with Chelsea left the striker pleading to play. Mourinho said as part of the BBC’s ‘How to win the Champions League’ series that he and Eto’o “fought every day”.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The last 16 draw pitted Mourinho against Chelsea for the first time since the end of his first spell with the club in 2007. Inter, chasing a famous treble, led 2-1 from the first leg. Though he set up Diego Milito for the opening goal in that contest at San Siro, Eto’o also missed a glorious chance just after the half-hour mark. He was substituted in the 67th minute for Goran Pandev, and it’s fair to say Mourinho had doubts about the Cameroon forward for the return leg.
WHAT MOURINHO SAID
Mourinho said: "Psychology is part of the job and is part of the game with the players. The way you deal with the press is not going to win to win matches. Not at all. But, with the players? Yes. And, you know, I had I think, hundreds of players (during my career). I always looked at each one of them as a different guy than the other guys. Every person is one individual.
"I give you an example of a very strong minded guy, Samuel Eto’o. The week before that match at Stamford Bridge, I fought him every day. Big, big discussions, big level of pressure. I told him: “I'm not going to play you. You are not in your best level. You are not going to play.” He said: “Please, Mr. Let me play. I said: “no, there is no please Mr. You are not going to play. You are not performing. I don't trust you”. It was one week of an emotional work with him."
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
Mourinho relented, and he played Eto’o from the start. His faith was rewarded as Eto’o scored the only goal at Stamford Bridge 11 minutes from time to clinch a 3-1 aggregate win, Mourinho’s psychological approach having successfully motivated the striker. Inter went to beat CSKA Moscow before a defining triumph over Barcelona was followed by victory against Bayern Munich in the final to complete the treble.