{
  "id": 16266628,
  "title": "Mourinho must stop Barca machine as Clasico tensions resume",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/mourinho-must-stop-barca-machine-as-clasico-tensions-resume",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-24T02:16:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2026/10/1562384/mourinho-must-stop-barca-machine-clasico-tensions-resume"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho faces Barcelona in their next Clasico at Camp Nou on Sunday. This is Mourinho's first as Real Madrid's coach since his return to the club. The Portuguese manager's previous spell at Madrid was marked by his efforts to break Barcelona's dominance under Pep Guardiola. Relations between the two clubs soured during that period, with Mourinho often clashing verbally with Guardiola, Lionel Messi, and other Barcelona players.\n\nMourinho managed to secure a La Liga title for Real Madrid in 2012, the highlight of his first tenure. Clasico matches between the two sides have been intense, with Mourinho and his staff often clashing with Barcelona players both on the pitch and in the media. The coach has a history of battles with Guardiola, Messi, and Madrid's former icons like Iker Casillas.\n\nDuring his second spell at Madrid, Mourinho has not shied away from employing tactics to distract his team when they are not performing well. This includes showing print-outs of derby incidents and refusing to attend press conferences. His main goal of rejoining the club is to help them defeat back-to-back Spanish champions, Hansi Flick's Barcelona.\n\nMourinho acknowledges that his team is not yet at the level he desires after only a few hundred days in charge. However, he believes they are improving and making progress. In the Clasico, Mourinho may revert to his previous tactics, employing defenders like Pepe in midfield to try and disrupt Barcelona's flow.",
  "summary": "BARCELONA: Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho will renew one of football’s most bitter rivalries on Sunday when he takes charge of his first Clasico since returning to the club, with La Liga leaders Barcelona awaiting him at Camp Nou.",
  "key_points": [
    "Jose Mourinho returns as Real Madrid coach for Clasico against Barcelona.",
    "Relations soured during Mourinho's first tenure, with verbal clashes.",
    "Mourinho aims to defeat Barcelona, Spain's back-to-back champions."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Eye pokes, a ‘scandal’ and a war of words: Mourinho brings the Clasico circus back",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/eye-pokes-a-scandal-and-a-war-of-words-mourinho-brings-the-clasico",
        "published": "2026-10-24T05:10:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}