Mourinho gives his prediction on this year's UCL finalists
The former Real Madrid and Man Utd boss also spoke of his desire to return to the competition, saying it would be "spectacular" to win it for the third time.
Jose Mourinho has given his prediction on the two teams who will reach this year’s Champions League final, which would see Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi face off on European football’s highest stage for the first time since 2009.
However, the former Manchester United coach believes there would be much more to a Juventus-Barcelona final than the individual battle between the two greatest players of their generation.
"Juventus and Barcelona are the two big candidates for this year’s Champions League, but there are also the English teams, Ajax and Porto. Everyone talks about Ronaldo and Messi, but I prefer to talk about Juventus and Barcelona. The world focuses more on the individual, but I will always be a football coach and football is a team sport,” Mourinho told France Press.
“The Bianconeri and Blaugrana, however, they have experience, talent and each have a special player. Normally, wherever these special players are, those teams end up becoming the best.”
Mourinho eager to make Champions League return
On his part, the Portuguese coach also spoke of his desire to return to managing a club in the Champions league, saying it would be “spectacular” for him to win the competition for a third time.
“I hope to return to compete in the Champions League soon, but sometimes, when you are away, you have to learn to win other things,” he said
“When I arrived at Manchester United in 2016, we were not in the Champions League and I had to win the Europa League. If I could win a third Champions League it would be spectacular, but even if I had to win a third Europa League, it wouldn’t be bad.”
Despite his eagerness to return to coaching as soon as possible, the ex-Real Madrid boss confessed on BeIN Sports that he has already rejected up to four job offers, as he holds out for a club that he deems the right fit for him and his experience.
"What I have in mind is that I would like to be back in the summer, in June, for a new club, for a new pre-season," Mourinho told BeIN Sports. "I know exactly what I don't want. That's the reason why I had to say (no) already to three or four different offers. And I know what I want, in terms of not a specific club but the nature of the job, the dimension of the job."