Jose Mourinho vs Rafa Benitez: A feud that has lasted 11 years and how it turned sour 

  • Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez developed a rivalry over last 11 years
  • The pair both joined the Premier League in the summer of 2004
  • Mourinho was appointed Chelsea manager while Benitez joined Liverpool
  • Both men have also managed Inter Milan and Real Madrid
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Even while living in different countries and competing in different leagues, Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez are at war.

It is a rivalry that began in 2004 and, 11 years later, is still rumbling on between the Chelsea boss and Real Madrid manager.

Here, Sportsmail takes a look at the best bits from the feud.


 

It all started in the summer of 2004 when both Liverpool and Chelsea were looking for new managers. Mourinho had just won the Champions League with Porto while Benitez guided Valencia to a La Liga and UEFA Cup double.

Both clubs were keen on Mourinho, who seemed destined to join Liverpool when he said in April that year: 'Liverpool are a team that interests everyone and Chelsea does not interest me so much because it is a new project with lots of money invested in it. I think it is a project which, if the club fail to win everything, then (Roman) Abramovich could retire and take the money out of the club. It's an uncertain project. It is interesting for a coach to have the money to hire quality players but you never know if a project like this will bring success.'

But the Portuguese manager joined Chelsea, and Liverpool, meanwhile appointed Benitez. Little was it known that this would be the start of an epic rivalry between managers and clubs.

Rafa Benitez was unveiled as Liverpool manager in 2004 after leaving Valencia

Rafa Benitez was unveiled as Liverpool manager in 2004 after leaving Valencia

Jose Mourinho joined Chelsea in 2004 after guiding Porto to Champions League glory

Jose Mourinho joined Chelsea in 2004 after guiding Porto to Champions League glory

The first real showdown between Mourinho and Benitez came in the 2005 Carling Cup final. A Steven Gerrard own-goal gifted Chelsea an equaliser, and Mourinho's men went on to win in extra-time in Cardiff.

The Chelsea boss was dismissed for celebrating Gerrard's own-goal by holding his finger to his lips in front of Liverpool supporters, something which he claimed was aimed at the press. Mourinho had already become rather disliked at Anfield.

Jose Mourinho landed himself in hot water for holding his finger to his lips in the 2005 Carling Cup final
Jose Mourinho landed himself in hot water for holding his finger to his lips in the 2005 Carling Cup final

Mourinho landed himself in hot water for holding his finger to his lips in the 2005 Carling Cup final

Luis Garcia's controversial goal settled a tense Champions League semi-final as Liverpool ended Chelsea's European campaign. Mourinho's side arrived at Anfield on the back of winning the Premier League and as big favourites to advance to the final in Istanbul.

After a 0-0 draw in the first leg at Stamford Bridge, Garcia scored the only goal of the tie but questions remain as to whether the ball actually crossed the line.

After the match, Mourinho said: 'The best team lost. After they scored only one team played, the other one just defended for the whole game.

'This was a copy of the Carling Cup final in Cardiff, where Liverpool scored early and then defended. The linesman scored the goal. No-one knows if that shot went over the line and you must be 100 per cent.'

Luis Garcia's famous 'ghost goal' against Chelsea in the 2005 Champions League semi-final at Anfield

Luis Garcia's famous 'ghost goal' against Chelsea in the 2005 Champions League semi-final at Anfield

Mourinho (left) and Benitez on the sideline during that nail-biting semi-final second leg

Mourinho (left) and Benitez on the sideline during that nail-biting semi-final second leg

Liverpool and Chelsea were drawn against each other in the group stage of the 2005-06 Champions League. The war of words between both managers had continued over from the summer with Benitez saying that Chelsea are not exciting and not among the world's best clubs. Mourinho, meanwhile, led his Chelsea team to Anfield in September still sore about Garcia's ghost goal the season before. He said: 'They didn't score in the semi-final against us but I accept they beat us.'

The Champions League clash between the two teams at Anfield finished in a 0-0 stalemate and Benitez claimed that Chelsea were scared of Liverpool. Mourinho's response was guiding his team to an emphatic 4-1 win on Merseyside in a Premier League showdown a few days later. The Chelsea boss said: 'They (Liverpool) have to defend or wait for a mistake and a goal. When they play against us face to face they can't win. We deserve more respect, not from Liverpool but from people in general.'

Mourinho and Benitez then faced off again the Champions League in the group stages the following year

Mourinho and Benitez then faced off again the Champions League in the group stages the following year

The Chelsea manager celebrates a 4-1 victory for his team at Anfield in the Premier League

The Chelsea manager celebrates a 4-1 victory for his team at Anfield in the Premier League

The teams met again in the 2006 FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford, and once again Liverpool denied Chelsea a place in a final and a shot at another trophy with a 2-1 victory.

Mourinho said: 'Did the best team win? I don't think so. 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.'

Mourinho looks on in disgust as Liverpool beat Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford in 2006

Mourinho looks on in disgust as Liverpool beat Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford in 2006

Liverpool and Chelsea met in the Champions League for the third season in a row when they were drawn together in the semi-finals of the 2006-07 competition. Once again it was Liverpool who won the battle over two legs, this time on a penalty shootout and Mourinho's wait for European success continued.

Benitez was keen to engage in Mourinho's mind games before the match. He said: 'I'm sure Chelsea do not like playing Liverpool. When they are talking and talking and talking before the game it means they are worried. Maybe they're afraid?.'

The Spaniard also took a swipe at the Chelsea's distribution of plastic flags to all their supporters during the home leg of the semi-final tie.

'We don't need to give away flags for our fans to wave,' he said. 'Our supporters are always there with their hearts, and that is all we need. It's the passion of the fans that helps to win matches, not flags.' 

Liverpool celebrate beating Chelsea in the 2007 Champions League semi-final at Anfield

Liverpool celebrate beating Chelsea in the 2007 Champions League semi-final at Anfield

Chelsea fans wave their plastic flags during a Champions League tie at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea fans wave their plastic flags during a Champions League tie at Stamford Bridge

 

Mourinho parted ways with Chelsea during the 2007-08 season, but still he had a dig at Benitez, seemingly annoyed that the Spaniard was being given an easy ride despite not having been in contention to win the Premier League.

'How many championships has Benitez won since he joined Liverpool? None,' Mourinho said. 'And how many names were suggested by the press to replace him? None.'

 

After a few years apart, Mourinho and Benitez would cross paths again when the Spaniard replaced the former Chelsea boss at Inter Milan. In 2010, Mourinho had just won the Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League Treble with the Italian side and moved on to Real Madrid.

When Benitez took over as Inter manager, he set his sights on possibly winning six trophies in a season but Mourinho was keen to remind him of the groundwork he did in Milan.

He said: 'One thing is for certain. Benitez won't do better than me. Another thing is also true that should he lift the Intercontinental Cup (Club World Cup), he will have only won two games compared to my 13 (in the previous season's Champions League). Therefore it will be my trophy and not his.'

Benitez didn't even last the year at Inter Milan and was sacked in December.

Mourinho celebrates winning the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010 to complete a famous Treble

Mourinho celebrates winning the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010 to complete a famous Treble

Benitez took over from Mourinho at Inter Milan in 2010 but didn't even last half a season

Benitez took over from Mourinho at Inter Milan in 2010 but didn't even last half a season

Having previously stated that he would never take the Chelsea job, Benitez was named interim boss at Stamford Bridge during the 2012-13 season. It's fair to say the Spaniard never won over the Chelsea fans, largely due to his Liverpool allegiances.

Mourinho returned to Chelsea in the summer of 2013 after his reign at Real Madrid turned sour and he took a swipe at Benitez, downplaying his achievement of winning the Europa League.

He said: 'I don't want to win the Europa League. It would be a big disappointment for me. I don't want my players to feel the Europa League is our competition.'

Benitez guided Chelsea to Europa League glory in 2013 during his interim spell in charge

Benitez guided Chelsea to Europa League glory in 2013 during his interim spell in charge

Benitez, who often likes to talk about facts, then hit back in 2014.

'Mourinho talks a lot about a lot of people, but I prefer to talk about facts,' the Spaniard said. 'At Liverpool, with a squad half of the value of Chelsea, we twice knocked his Chelsea side out of the Champions League.

'Later, with the most expensive squad at Real Madrid, he did nothing in the Champions League. Now he says if there is an offer of hundreds of millions for (Eden) Hazard and Oscar, maybe he can build a strong squad to win something.'

 

Benitez took over at Real Madrid this summer from Carlo Ancelotti and his wife continued the war of words.

'We tidy up his messes,' Mrs Benitez said in reference to the fact that Benitez has followed Mourinho as manager at Chelsea, Inter Milan and now Real Madrid.

Never one to shy away from a verbal battle, Mourinho said: 'The lady is a bit confused. Her husband went to Chelsea to replace Roberto Di Matteo and he went to Real Madrid and replaced Carlo Ancelotti.

Mourinho has responded to comments from Benitez's wife by implying the Real Madrid boss is fat

Mourinho has responded to comments from Benitez's wife by implying the Real Madrid boss is fat

Benitez arrives in Guangzhou for Real Madrid's latest pre-season contest against Inter Milan

Benitez arrives in Guangzhou for Real Madrid's latest pre-season contest against Inter Milan

'The only club where her husband replaced me was at Inter Milan, where in six months he destroyed the best team in Europe at the time.

'If she takes care of her husband's diet, she will not have any time to talk about me.' 

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