Barcelona vs Inter: Pep, José, and the Era-Defining Semi-Final - Part One
04/22/25 • 45 min
Welcome to It Was What It Was.
As Barcelona and Inter prepare to face off once again in this year’s Champions League semi-final, we look back at the original - a tie that shaped modern football.
Pep Guardiola vs. José Mourinho. All-out attack vs. tactical defiance. Ideology, rivalry - maybe even good vs. evil?
Fifteen years ago, Pep’s all-conquering Barcelona met Mourinho’s Inter Milan in a Champions League semi-final that didn’t just decide who reached the final - it helped define a footballing era.
In Part One, Rob and Jonathan set the scene: how Mourinho’s Inter came to challenge the most dominant team in the world, the tactics he used, the battles he fought in Italy, and how both sides arrived at this collision point chasing domestic and European glory.
Part Two drops Friday, where Rob and Jonathan break down the epic semi-final itself.
00:00 Barcelona's Football Perfection
01:48 Mourinho vs. Guardiola: A Rivalry Begins
02:47 The Dark Side of Mourinho
03:25 Star Wars Analogies and Football Tactics
06:53 Mourinho's Seven-Point Plan
07:45 Mourinho's Philosophy and Evolution
08:43 Mourinho's Journey to Inter Milan
09:58 Cultural Expectations and Pragmatic Football
12:23 Mourinho's Press Conference Antics
13:44 Mourinho's Linguistic Brilliance
14:49 Mourinho's Training Philosophy
20:04 Key Matches and Tactical Shifts
21:16 Mourinho's First Season at Inter
22:27 Transfer Drama: Stars on the Move
23:51 Barcelona's Dominance and Challenges
26:40 Inter's Journey to the Semifinals
28:57 Mourinho's Tactical Mastery
32:29 Controversies and Confrontations
40:24 The Road to the Semifinals
43:57 Setting the Stage for the Epic Semifinal
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to It Was What It Was.
As Barcelona and Inter prepare to face off once again in this year’s Champions League semi-final, we look back at the original - a tie that shaped modern football.
Pep Guardiola vs. José Mourinho. All-out attack vs. tactical defiance. Ideology, rivalry - maybe even good vs. evil?
Fifteen years ago, Pep’s all-conquering Barcelona met Mourinho’s Inter Milan in a Champions League semi-final that didn’t just decide who reached the final - it helped define a footballing era.
In Part One, Rob and Jonathan set the scene: how Mourinho’s Inter came to challenge the most dominant team in the world, the tactics he used, the battles he fought in Italy, and how both sides arrived at this collision point chasing domestic and European glory.
Part Two drops Friday, where Rob and Jonathan break down the epic semi-final itself.
00:00 Barcelona's Football Perfection
01:48 Mourinho vs. Guardiola: A Rivalry Begins
02:47 The Dark Side of Mourinho
03:25 Star Wars Analogies and Football Tactics
06:53 Mourinho's Seven-Point Plan
07:45 Mourinho's Philosophy and Evolution
08:43 Mourinho's Journey to Inter Milan
09:58 Cultural Expectations and Pragmatic Football
12:23 Mourinho's Press Conference Antics
13:44 Mourinho's Linguistic Brilliance
14:49 Mourinho's Training Philosophy
20:04 Key Matches and Tactical Shifts
21:16 Mourinho's First Season at Inter
22:27 Transfer Drama: Stars on the Move
23:51 Barcelona's Dominance and Challenges
26:40 Inter's Journey to the Semifinals
28:57 Mourinho's Tactical Mastery
32:29 Controversies and Confrontations
40:24 The Road to the Semifinals
43:57 Setting the Stage for the Epic Semifinal
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
The Horse That Changed Manchester United: The Glazer Takeover - Part Two
Welcome back to It Was What It Was. It's time for part two of our look at the unexpected role a horse would play in the controversial takeover of Manchester United by the Glazer family.
The episode covers the period of the Glazer acquisition, the impact of their ownership, and the financial manoeuvres that transformed the club.
From Alex Ferguson's complicated relationship with the Glazers to the missed opportunities and recruitment challenges that followed, this episode gives an in-depth look at how Manchester United's fate was sealed - and the horse that might have started it all!
00:00 The Decline of Manchester United: A 20-Year Journey
00:20 Introduction to the Football History Podcast
00:48 The Gibraltar Incident and Its Fallout
01:26 The Glazers' Takeover: A Turning Point
02:24 The Financial Strategy of the Glazers
02:54 The Early Signs of Trouble
03:58 The Glazers' Background and Business Practices
04:48 The Impact of Global Capital on Football
06:24 The Glazers' Vision and Strategy
08:43 The Financial Mechanics of the Takeover
10:41 The Role of Debt in Modern Football
11:54 The Glazers' Financial Maneuvering
14:32 The Aftermath and Long-Term Consequences
16:15 The Glazers' Legacy and Future Implications
18:26 The Financial Crisis and Its Impact on Football
20:57 The Leveraged Buyout Explained
22:52 The Final Stages of the Takeover
30:47 The Glazer Takeover and Initial Success
31:17 Fan Protests and Opposition
34:52 Financial Strain and Missed Opportunities
37:32 The Role of Ed Woodward
43:18 Transfer Market Failures
46:15 Managerial Missteps
53:37 The Glazers' Disconnect and Conclusion
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
Barcelona vs Inter: Pep, José, and the Semi-Final That Defined an Era – Part Two
Welcome to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast.
It's time for Part Two of Pep vs Jose! As Barcelona and Inter prepare to face off once again in this year’s Champions League semi-final, we look back at the original - a tie that shaped modern football.
Guardiola vs Mourinho. All-out attack vs. tactical defiance. Ideology, rivalry - maybe even good vs. evil?
Fifteen years ago, Pep’s all-conquering Barcelona met Jose's Inter Milan in a Champions League semi-final that didn’t just decide who reached the final - it helped define a footballing era.
Having set the scene in part one, Rob and Jonathan relive the incredible semi-final battles, where Mourinho would ultimately dethrone Guardiola in an incredible second-leg at the Nou Camp - which saw a controversial sending off, late drama and an iconic pitch celebration.
If you enjoyed the podcast please subscribe and rate.
00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene
00:45 The Clash of Philosophies: Mourinho vs. Guardiola
01:32 The Tactical Battle Begins
04:32 The Volcano Eruption and Its Impact
10:24 First Leg Highlights and Analysis
13:18 Ibrahimović's Conflict and Mourinho's Mind Games
18:06 The Build-Up to the Second Leg
25:23 The Myth of the Decision
25:41 The Controversial Red Card
26:54 Conspiracy Theories and Psychological Influence
27:52 The Clash of Good vs. Evil
28:34 Tactical Fouling and Pep's Cynical Side
29:59 Marina's Critique of Barcelona's Tactics
31:37 Inter's Defensive Masterclass
34:13 The Struggle Against Possession Football
36:38 The Final Moments and Disallowed Goal
40:03 Marino's Triumphant Celebration
43:16 The Aftermath and Legacy
46:43 The Tactical Evolution in Football
48:58 The Importance of Non-Possession Football
50:28 Conclusion and Reflections
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/it-was-what-it-was-the-football-history-podcast-573049/barcelona-vs-inter-pep-jos%c3%a9-and-the-era-defining-semi-final-part-one-89791170"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to barcelona vs inter: pep, josé, and the era-defining semi-final - part one on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy