José Mourinho has revealed that Lionel Messi made him a better coach, admitting that facing the Argentine constantly pushed him to rethink his tactics and approach at the highest level of football.
The Portuguese tactician, who battled Messi in some of the fiercest clashes of his career while managing Inter Milan and Real Madrid, said the Barcelona legend left a lasting imprint on his development as a manager.
Speaking about the opponent who most influenced his managerial career, Mourinho mentioned the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“Messi, because every time we played against him, he forced me to think a lot,” he revealed.
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During his time at Inter, Mourinho’s side overcame Messi’s Barcelona in the 2010 Champions League semi-final in what remains one of his most celebrated tactical triumphs.
Later, at Real Madrid, he repeatedly faced Messi in El Clásico showdowns that became global spectacles, with the Argentine often at the heart of Barcelona’s dominance.
Reflecting on those encounters, Mourinho has previously admitted that Messi’s presence changed the way he approached games.
“Messi never played for my team, but he played against me and he has made me a better coach for having to prepare matches [to stop him],” he said in an earlier interview.
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