According to reports, the draw for the 2010 UEFA Champions League round of 16 pitted Mourinho against his former club Chelsea for the first time since his first stint ended. Inter, on their way to a historic treble, had won the first leg 2-1.

Although Samuel Eto’o assisted Diego Milito’s opening goal at San Siro, he missed a great chance in the first half. He was substituted in the 67th minute, and it could be said Mourinho had doubts about his Cameroonian striker ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho explained in a BBC documentary titled “How to Win the Champions League” how his approach to Samuel Eto’o before the Inter-Chelsea match led the striker to beg him to play. Mourinho said he and Eto’o had daily battles.

The Portuguese coach stated: “Psychology is part of the job and part of the game with players. How you deal with the media won’t win you the match. Not at all. But with players? Yes. And you know, in my professional career, I think I’ve had hundreds of players. I always looked at each one as a different individual. Each person is unique.

Let me give you an example of someone with a very strong mentality: Samuel Eto’o. A week before that match at Stamford Bridge, I fought with him every day. Big arguments, pressure at the highest level. I told him: I won’t let you play. You’re not in your best form. You’re not playing. And he said: Please, boss, let me play. And I said: No, no begging. You’re not playing. You’re not good. I don’t trust you. I had a week of heavy emotional and psychological work with him.”