On 24 November 2009, Inter went to visit Barcelona, at the Camp Nou. Opposite is the team that won the Champions League the previous year, plus the Nerazzurri who haven’t won it for 45 years. In the first leg Mourinho managed to ensnare Barça’s setters, but in the end it was a lackluster 0-0, with some criticism because the difference was there, quite significant, net of the draw. At the end of November there is the return leg, in fact, with the Blaugrana winning easily 2-0, without risking anything and with their stars shining in the firmament.
Even without Messi and Ibrahimovic, with an extraordinary first half. Contest broken by Piqué, then Pedro for the final 2-0. However, Julio Cesar was the best on the pitch among the Inter fans.
“At this moment I give up, they are stronger.” José Mourinho spoke like this at the end of that match, without however leaving the gauntlet in the ring without trying to take it back. “If they tell me to play again tomorrow or in the semi-final, I’m ready and I’ll try again.” Everyone knows how it went, because the “unplayable” Barça met the Inter of Milito, Sneijder and Maicon in the semi-final, losing 3-2 on aggregate, despite a few too many controversies due to the refereeing (and the sprinklers ).