Rafael Benitez and Jose Mourinho would have met anyway had they both opted not to move to the Premier League, with Benitez’s Valencia and Mourinho’s Porto competing in the UEFA Super Cup in the summer of 2004. UEFA Cup winners Valencia were arguably the favourites as they beat the European Champions 2-1 in Monaco, with Claudio Ranieri and Víctor Fernández at the respective helms.
For Benitez and Mourinho though their paths became intertwined, with many more clashes to come both on and off the pitch. Their triumphs in their own countries along with their European trophies against the odds, ensured that expectations were high.
Liverpool and Chelsea met five times in the two managers’ first season in England, which certainly accelerated the ill-feeling between the clubs along with the very public pursuit of Reds’ captain Steven Gerrard. They were often very close matches with the smallest of details deciding them.
The most infamous encounter came when Liverpool knocked Chelsea out of the Champions League courtesy of a controversial goal from Luis Garcia. The now dubbed ‘ghost goal’ separated the two sides, as Liverpool progressed to the final where they won their fifth European Cup in even more dramatic circumstances.
“You can say the linesman's scored,” said Mourinho after the game. “It was a goal coming from the moon or from the Anfield Road stands.”
A year later, Liverpool beat Chelsea again as they won another semi-final in the FA Cup. “Did the best team win? I don't think so,” remarked Mourinho.
“In a one-off game maybe they will surprise me and they can do it. In the Premiership, the distance between the teams is 45 points over two seasons.”
Benitez thrived in direct competition with Mourinho, but the vast difference between the clubs’ economic situation meant that he could never overthrow his rival over a longer term. The familiarity had bred contempt.
“We have our special ones here, they are our fans, who always play with their hearts,” said Benitez in April 2007. Mourinho left Chelsea just five months later.
The most surprising part of their relationship has been how they have continued their disagreement, despite not managing against each other. Benitez has taken jobs at Mourinho’s former clubs in Internazionale, Chelsea and Real Madrid, but that doesn’t mean they have to be so bitter against one another.
For all of Mourinho’s talk about success and Benitez’s comments regarding the adversity he has faced, there are similarities within their philosophies, if not in their man-management skills. They were both tactical innovators for the Premier League when they first arrived, whilst they pride themselves on defensive resilience.
Now at Newcastle United, Benitez has never faced Mourinho with such a disparity between their teams. The Magpies are looking to establish themselves in the top flight and certainly haven’t got the wealth that is present in Manchester.
Benitez is better within this scenario and his achievements have mainly come from improving players who haven’t reached their goals rather than dealing with egos. It’s here that the difference between him and Mourinho is at its most vast, although they both tread a very thin line.