Mourinho, Inter and Champions League: Can he deliver again at Real Madrid?

Steelman: both sides, in good faith

The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.

The case for

Advocates point to Mourinho's proven pedigree as a big-game manager who has won the Champions League with two different clubs and knows exactly what it takes to navigate a gruelling European campaign. They argue his ability to organise a defence, manage egos and lift a squad's mentality is precisely what a Real Madrid side coming off a difficult season needs, and that his early backing from a senior player like Mbappe suggests the dressing room has bought into his methods. For this camp, his unfinished business at the Bernabeu and his history of thriving when written off make him a credible bet to go further than his semi-final ceiling last time round.

The case against

Sceptics counter that Mourinho's more recent career, marked by shorter, often turbulent spells and a reliance on cautious, reactive tactics, sits uneasily with a modern Real Madrid squad built for expansive, attacking football. They note that in his first spell he never got past the Champions League semi-finals despite considerable resources, and worry his approach can grow stale or create friction with star players over time. Given the squad's underwhelming recent form, including the weekend defeat to Betis, doubters argue it is reasonable to question whether his methods are suited to delivering the club's ultimate continental prize again.