José Mourinho and Manuel Pellegrini meet again in a clash that marks the Chilean manager's return to the Santiago Bernabéu, where he was coach of Real Madrid in the 2009/10 season, before being replaced by the Portuguese.
Mourinho acknowledged having made comments he considered stupid in the past, in reference to his former criticisms of Pellegrini's work. This statement comes as a sign of rapprochement between the two managers.
The Chilean managed Real Madrid for one season, finishing the Spanish League in second place, before Mourinho took charge of the team in 2010. Subsequently, the two became rivals when Mourinho managed at Chelsea and Manchester United, while Pellegrini moved to Manchester City.
The reunion at the Bernabéu represents a symbolic moment for both managers, who share a history of professional rivalry but also of mutual respect accumulated over the years.
