Jose Mourinho is the master of mind games. The Portuguese knows exactly how to rile the opposition ahead of big matches, while deflecting the pressure off his own players and placing the performance of the referee under the spotlight. Indeed, when it comes to off-the-pitch psychology he is, as Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said in more colourful language on Tuesday, the man. The boss. But this time he may have met his match.
He can play his mind games to the media as much as he likes he wants. But the truth is that, the result on the field is all that matters in the end.
Only one person fell for Mourinho's mind games. Mourinho.