Andres Iniesta has accused Jose Mourinho of being the one behind the ‘hatred' between Real Madrid and Barcelona players during his time at the Bernabeu.
Mourinho and Pep Guardiola established an enmity which would come to define the league in those years and the pair had numerous clashes on the touchline.
This tension often spilled over onto the pitch and Barcelona legend Iniesta believes that ‘lines were crossed' when Mourinho was at the helm.
‘Mourinho was the key component in the bad blood between Barcelona and Real Madrid in that era.
‘This caused a lot of harm in the national team.
Iniesta's former Barcelona team-mate Xavi lately admitted that he ‘doesn't enjoy' Mourinho's style of football.
‘Mourinho is a very defensive manager and playing against his Inter hasn't been easy,' Xavi told Corriere dello Sport last month.
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago
