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Mourinho's Real Madrid European Revival Bid Starts with Inter Reunion

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho kicks off his European comeback with Los Blancos against his former club Inter Milan. Thomas COEX / AFP
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho kicks off his European comeback with Los Blancos against his former club Inter Milan. Thomas COEX / AFP
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Mourinho's Real Madrid European Revival Bid Starts with Inter Reunion

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho kicks off his European comeback with Los Blancos against his former club Inter Milan. Thomas COEX / AFP
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho kicks off his European comeback with Los Blancos against his former club Inter Milan. Thomas COEX / AFP

When Jose Mourinho left Inter Milan for Real Madrid in the summer of 2010, after leading the Italian outfit to Champions League glory, he was at the peak of his powers.

The Portuguese coach claimed an historic treble with Inter, clinching Serie A in the last week of the season and lifting the Coppa Italia, AFP said.

Inter beat Bayern 2-0 in the Champions League final at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium, winning the trophy for the first time since 1965 and becoming the first Italian team to win the treble.

The day after the final Mourinho said it was likely his last match in charge and around a week later his appointment at Real Madrid was finalized.

Now 16 years on, and beginning his second stint at Madrid, Mourinho kicks off the record 15-time Champions League winners' European campaign against Inter on Tuesday at the Bernabeu.

Neither the veteran coach nor Inter have been able to reproduce that level of European success since.

Inter have reached the final on two subsequent occasions, beaten in 2023 by Manchester City and then thrashed by Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 showpiece.

Mourinho was unable to help Real Madrid past the semi-finals and after leaving the club in 2013 has mainly spent his time competing in lower levels of European competition.

The 63-year-old led Manchester United to the Europa League in 2017 and won the Conference League with Roma in 2022.

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Fished out of the relative wilderness by Madrid president Florentino Perez this summer after two seasons without a major trophy for Los Blancos, Mourinho's main task is to return the club to their European throne.

Only five coaches have won the trophy more times than Mourinho, who also lifted it with Porto in 2004 to kickstart his career and earn him passage to Chelsea and Europe's biggest leagues.

"My attraction to Real Madrid is due to its history, its frustrations in recent years and its expectations to win," said Mourinho in 2010, although the same holds true now, after a remarkable period of success ended.

In his first reign Mourinho helped disrupt Pep Guardiola's Barcelona's dominance within Spain but was unable to help Madrid end their wait for a 10th European Cup.

That came under his successor Carlo Ancelotti, who claimed three with Madrid over two spells at the club.

Zinedine Zidane also lifted the trophy three times in consecutive seasons, with Madrid winning six in a remarkable 10-year spell.

Perez credits Mourinho with building the foundations for those trophies.

"I'm glad my work had some positive impact, but the titles belong to Carlo, Zidane, the players, and the fans," said Mourinho.

Madrid's grip on the trophy has loosened during the past two years, knocked out in the quarter-finals by Arsenal in 2025 and last season they were eliminated by Bayern Munich in the last 16.

Mourinho's challenge is to prove both he and Real Madrid still can rule among Europe's elite, and stopping Luis Enrique's PSG retaining it for a third year running.

"Finishing without trophies at Real Madrid is not a successful season," said Mourinho in August.

The coach's second stint at Madrid started smoothly with three wins from three games, but on Friday they fell to their first defeat, 1-0 at Real Betis.

Inter's visit to the Spanish capital will be an early test of whether Mourinho can restore Madrid's European fortunes, against the club with which he last reached the pinnacle of the competition.

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MotoGP Riders Prepare for 'Emotional' Farewell to Phillip Island

Jorge Martin (L) and Marc Marquez (R) are preparing to race for the last time at Phillip Island. Paul CROCK / AFP
Jorge Martin (L) and Marc Marquez (R) are preparing to race for the last time at Phillip Island. Paul CROCK / AFP
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MotoGP Riders Prepare for 'Emotional' Farewell to Phillip Island

Jorge Martin (L) and Marc Marquez (R) are preparing to race for the last time at Phillip Island. Paul CROCK / AFP
Jorge Martin (L) and Marc Marquez (R) are preparing to race for the last time at Phillip Island. Paul CROCK / AFP

Seven-time world champion Marc Marquez admits it will be "emotional" this weekend as one of MotoGP's most iconic circuits at Phillip Island hosts its last race after nearly three decades.

The picturesque and often windswept track, some two hours outside of Melbourne, has been a staple on the calendar since 1997 and a favorite among the riders given its waterfront location and demanding layout.

But its contract expires this year.

Promoter MotoGP Sports Entertainment wanted to broaden its appeal and shift it to Melbourne's Albert Park, which hosts the Australian Formula One, AFP said.

The Victorian state government was adamant it should remain at Phillip Island.

With negotiations breaking down, South Australia stepped in and secured the race for six years from 2027 in Adelaide -- the first MotoGP to be held in a city's center location.

"Phillip Island is an extraordinary circuit. Racing here for the last time will be emotional," said Ducati's Marquez, who heads into the weekend two points behind Aprilia's Jorge Martin in the championship standings.

"It is a track with a unique, breathtaking layout. Here I won one of my first races with Ducati and we are motivated to do well, ready to fight right away for the positions that matter."

The venue has seen some of the Spaniard's most impressive rides -- he is a four-time winner -- and also some of his worst moments including a huge high-speed crash with Johann Zarco in 2018.

Teammate Francesco Bagnaia has never stood on the top step of the Phillip Island podium.

But the 2022 and 2023 races, where he finished third and second respectively, were vitally important to his title-winning exploits and he too is sad to see it go.

"It will be the last time on this track, a circuit where I haven't managed to win yet, but which holds an incredible charm, an extraordinary layout, and pure adrenaline," he said.

With five rounds to go, the title fight has effectively become a three-way battle between Martin, reigning champion Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi, who won the last race in Indonesia to stay in touch.

Aprilia's Bezzecchi is 44 points behind Marquez and 50 clear of fourth-placed Ai Ogura.

"We arrive in Australia with the gaps in the riders' standings even tighter, so we have to keep working and keep faith in what everyone at Aprilia and the team is doing," said Martin.

"I'm confident that my team and I will do an excellent job and give this circuit the send-off it deserves."

Marquez and Martin both missed last year's Australian race with injuries, and Spain's Raul Fernandez grabbed his chance to surge to a maiden MotoGP victory.

Currently seventh in the standings, Fernandez is equally dismayed at the race leaving Phillip Island.

"I will cry a little bit," he said. "Not because I got my first MotoGP victory here but also because I always enjoy it a lot coming to Phillip Island -- it is super nice.

"There were so many interesting races in the past here, not just in MotoGP, also in Moto2 and Moto3, so it's a track that everybody will miss a little bit."

Sports

Fernandes Takes Aim at Carrick as Man Utd Lurch into Fresh Crisis

Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase matchday 3, football match between Como 1907 and Manchester United at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Como, northen Italy on October 21, 2026. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)
Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase matchday 3, football match between Como 1907 and Manchester United at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Como, northen Italy on October 21, 2026. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)
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Fernandes Takes Aim at Carrick as Man Utd Lurch into Fresh Crisis

Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase matchday 3, football match between Como 1907 and Manchester United at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Como, northen Italy on October 21, 2026. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)
Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase matchday 3, football match between Como 1907 and Manchester United at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Como, northen Italy on October 21, 2026. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes criticized manager Michael Carrick's tactics following the humiliating 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como.

United fell behind to a second-minute goal and never recovered as the club's winless run reached seven games after another lackluster performance.

"We started on the wrong foot and they scored very early," Fernandes told TNT Sports. "Not much pressure on the ball, not many good movements with the ball, not many things going our way."

The Portugal midfielder suggested Nico Paz's early strike for Como on Wednesday night had a damaging effect on the visitors, leaving them struggling to impose themselves. Paz scored again after Tasos Douvikas had doubled the lead, with Jacobo Ramon adding a fourth.

Only a stoppage-time goal from Joshua Zirkzee stopped United from succumbing to their joint-heaviest Champions League loss.

"Conceding early makes us go into the game with a mood of defeat," AFP quoted Fernandes as saying. "It's difficult to get out of that, trying to be brave, to have the ball and make something happen.

"If we are not able to do that, it is going to be very difficult to get out of this situation."

Fernandes also highlighted United's passive approach out of possession, saying Como were allowed too much time and space to dictate play.

Asked whether those comments amounted to criticism of Carrick's tactics, Fernandes said: "That's on the manager and staff to see, not me.

"Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable."

Fernandes is the latest United player to publicly break ranks.

Defender Lisandro Martinez took aim at the club's hierarchy following a 2-0 Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid last week.

Martinez said Carrick had been left with an understrength squad. He later apologized.

Youri Tielemans, who started alongside Fernandes in the United midfield in Italy, admitted the display was simply not good enough.

"We got outplayed for most of the game so it was a very disappointing night," said Tielemans.

"You can be good tactically but if the effort is not good (then it will not work) and vice versa. You need to be good at everything and tonight we were poor."

Sports

Wrong Anthems Played at Asian Para Games after Mishap-marred Asian Games

The Asian Games closed on October 4. MOHD RASFAN / AFP
The Asian Games closed on October 4. MOHD RASFAN / AFP
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Wrong Anthems Played at Asian Para Games after Mishap-marred Asian Games

The Asian Games closed on October 4. MOHD RASFAN / AFP
The Asian Games closed on October 4. MOHD RASFAN / AFP

Wrong national anthems were played three times at the Asian Para Games in Japan's Nagoya this week, prompting the mayor to apologize just days after the city hosted the mishap-plagued Asian Games.

The Asian Para Games is taking place in the central Japanese hub city through Saturday, featuring around 4,000 athletes and officials in 18 sports.

Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa apologized on Wednesday for the latest error, which occurred despite officials' pledges to implement steps to prevent mistakes, including playing the correct national anthems.

"These things happened during the Asian Games, so of course the operations were reviewed and examined based on the lessons learned. The fact that it happened again is really just unacceptable," the mayor told a press conference.

On Monday, a Taiwanese athlete won a men's para taekwondo competition, but the Iranian anthem was played in its entirety, according to Nagoya officials at the mayor's press conference.

Officials realized their mistake after the ceremony, they said.

On the same day, the Iranian anthem was played again during a women's para taekwondo ceremony, where a Mongolian competitor was receiving the gold medal, according to the city.

The incorrect music was stopped after the Mongolian delegation pointed out the error.

Organizers then played the Mongolian anthem after the music was provided by the delegation, Nagoya officials said.

Separately on Monday, officials broadcast the South Korean anthem for about five seconds, instead of the Chinese one, before a sitting volleyball match between China and Iran.

"It is unacceptable, or rather, it's painful. I am very sorry about it," the mayor said, adding that he felt the tournament was otherwise progressing smoothly.

The Asian Games, which concluded in early October, faced heavy criticism for shortcomings ranging from inadequate accommodations for athletes to the playing of wrong national anthems.

On September 18, organizers played North Korea's national anthem for the South Korean hockey team.