While Guardiola and the others were studying how to deal with Barcelona at the hotel, Barcelona manager Mourinho was also discussing the current situation with his assistants.
Barcelona had been fairly lucky in the Champions League group-stage draw.
Although AC Milan were a strong side, Mourinho was confident about competing for first place in the group. Besides, AC Milan was no longer the AC Milan of the Ancelotti era. Allegri had adopted a completely different style of play, and even Pirlo had been sent away.
Barcelona had plenty of experience dealing with a team like that.
Riding on the achievements of the previous season, Barcelona was now brimming with confidence. The outside world had even crowned them the Dream Team III. Mourinho and his assistants were quite proud as well, carrying themselves as if they looked down on all living things.
If Guardiola both loved and hated Barcelona, then Mourinho and his team felt nothing but resentment toward Guardiola and his Man City. They had no affection for them whatsoever.
From the moment Mourinho took over as Barcelona manager, he had been subjected to constant doubts.
Almost everyone, Cruyff included, believed that Mourinho was the manager least suited to Barcelona's traditions. Some had even concluded that he could never succeed at Barcelona. Every one of them had steadfastly supported Guardiola.
At the time, Guardiola was merely the manager of Barcelona's Second Team and had never formally coached the First Team.
How could Mourinho accept seeing such a rookie receive so much adulation—even threatening his own position?
During Mourinho's time at Barcelona, although he and Guardiola were colleagues in charge of the First Team and Second Team, respectively, they had absolutely no contact. Mourinho was even unwilling to call up players from the Youth Team, let alone Guardiola's favorite players. This