Jose Mourinho has had some terrific battles with Liverpool over the years.
One of the game’s most iconic managers of all time, Mourinho has had a quite incredible career.
Having taken charge of the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham in the Premier League though, the Portuguese has never been especially welcome at Anfield.
There were suggestions that Liverpool could sensationally consider Mourinho to succeed Jurgen Klopp this summer. In reality, that was never going to happen.
Had the 61-year-old been hired by the Liverpool owners however, he could have put wrong a moment that he has admitted still haunts him to this very day.
Jose Mourinho makes ‘ghost goal’ admission
Despite his prior greatness, things have been unravelling for a little while for Mourinho. After a disappointing spell with Tottenham, ‘the special one’ did briefly look like turning things around at Roma.
A Europa Conference League win in 2022 was a reminder of his enduring status as a perennial trophy winner. Jose’s team beat Arne Slot and Feyenoord in the final.
Since sacked by Roma and out of work ahead of the upcoming season, Mourinho would have been an interesting appointment at Liverpool.
That was never going to happen though, and the former Real Madrid boss has now ended up in Turkey with Fenerbahce.
READ MORE: Roy Keane reveals who he thinks is a better manager – Jurgen Klopp or Jose Mourinho
With all due respect to the Turkish side, it feels as though Mourinho’s days at the top level of football management are done.
And as he begins to look back on his career at some of Europe’s top clubs, Mourinho has admitted that one moment at Liverpool still enters his thoughts from time to time.
Taking part in a game of 20 questions with TNT Sports, Mourinho was asked by Rio Ferdinand to name a football moment he still thinks about today.
“Champions League semi-final, lost with a goal that was not a goal,” the manager quickly responds.
What is Jose Mourinho talking about?
For younger supporters, they may not remember or even be aware of the moment Mourinho is referring to here. But for fans of a certain vintage, it will be instantly recognisable.
Liverpool had put themselves in a good position by somehow scraping a 0-0 draw at champions-to-be Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final of 2005.
And cheering on their team in the biggest game for decades, Liverpool supporters created bedlam for Anfield’s return leg. The atmosphere remains legendary to this day.
It took only four minutes for the first goal to arrive and it’s one that – as Mourinho suggests – still creates debate.
Luis Garcia got it, capitalising on a rush of blood from Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech to lift the ball over the line.
Without goal-line technology, William Gallas’ attempt to clear it was deemed not good enough. The video footage was inconclusive, but Liverpool did not care. The goal was given. The Reds went on to Istanbul and the rest is history. Unlucky, Jose!