Jose Mourinho, one of the most iconic technicians in the history of football, has returned to be talked about with statements that have shaken the entire Italian football panorama. The former Inter coach, who led the Nerazzurri to the memorable Triplete in 2010, released an explosive interview in which he analyzed the recent decline of his former team, pointing the finger on a precise moment: the defeat against Bologna.

“It all started there,” said Mourinho in no uncertain terms. “That game was the first piece of a domino that ended up collapsing everything that had been built.” Hard words, which sound like an accusation veiled to current management and decisions made after that fateful meeting.

Mourinho, always known for his frankness and his ability to read the internal dynamics of a changing room, underlined how the team had lost confidence, compactness and identity. “When you lose against an opponent who theoretically you should beat without problems, something breaks inside. It is not only a technical, but mental question. And if you don’t intervene immediately, the fracture widens.”

The “domino” evoked by Mourinho does not only concern the results on the field, but also the corporate management and the spirit of the group. According to the Portuguese technician, the lack of reaction decided by the management after that setback sent a wrong message to the whole environment: “When mediocrity tolerate, mediocrity becomes the new normality.”

The words of the “Special One” had a huge echo in the Italian media. Newspapers, television programs and social networks have been invaded by comments, analysis and controversy. Many Inter fans have expressed bitterness and nostalgia, remembering the glorious times of Mourinho management, when the team seemed unbeatable and each match was faced with a hunger for relentless victory.

Despite the harshness of his words, Mourinho also wanted to leave advice to his former team: “Inter must remember who he is. You cannot live on income. Every season is a battle to be fought with hunger, humility and pride. If you lose these values, lose everything.”

Mourinho did not want to enter the details on individual responsibilities, but he hinted that, in his opinion, some key players did not show the right character in difficult times. “It is easy to be heroes when everything is fine. The real leaders emerge when everything goes wrong,” he said with his classic sharp tone.

At the end of the interview, Mourinho reiterated his love for Inter and for the Nerazzurri fans: “I will always be one of them. The memories we have built together can never be deleted. But for this reason, it is painful to see the club in difficulty.”

The reactions from the Inter world did not get to expect. Some former travel companions from Mourinho expressed understanding for his point of view, while others defended the current management, underlining the economic difficulties and challenges of a football that has changed a lot in recent years.

What is certain is that Mourinho, once again, managed to rekindle the spotlight on himself and his beloved Inter, showing that, even far from the Nerazzurri bench, his voice still has a huge weight. Meanwhile, the fans are divided between those who dream of one of their return and those who prefer to turn page definitively.

What remains is a bitter but perhaps necessary reflection: the great clubs can never afford to lower their guard, not even for an apparently insignificant game. Because, as Mourinho recalled, sometimes a small crack is enough to bring down an empire.