Antonio Conte’s assistant Lele Oriali praised the Napoli boss and Jose Mourinho, with whom he won a treble at Inter Milan in 2010: “They are superstars off the bench.”
Conte’s Napoli and Mourinho’s Benfica will meet in the sixth round of the Champions League on Wednesday.
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It will be a special meeting for Conte’s assistant Oriali, an Inter Milan legend who was on Mourinho’s staff when the Nerazzurri won the treble in 2010.
Oriali: I never want to play against Inter
Antonio Conte Gabriel Oriali
“Some games are different from others,” Orialli told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I never want to play against Inter Milan and there is always something left behind against Mourinho.”
The strong bond between Oriali and Mourinho extends beyond the pitch.
“Only two people call me Gabriel: my mother and Jose. I don’t know why he likes the name and I like the name too. To others I am Lele,” said the former Italy midfielder.
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Mourinho left Inter Milan to join Real Madrid immediately after winning the Champions League in May 2010, and Orialli expected the special player to leave at the end of that season.
“For months, the newspapers were filled with rumors about Jose’s departure,” he said.
“He and I had an extraordinary relationship, like the one I have now with Conte, but some topics are still taboo. One night, without violating any confidentiality rules, we finally talked about it.
LONDON, UK – SEPTEMBER 30: Benfica head coach Jose Mourinho during the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league stage MD2 match between Chelsea FC and SL Benfica at Stamford Bridge on September 30, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
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“We were just talking about what we had read. I made a joke: ‘You know, if you leave, they will sack me.’ Mourinho, calm and in complete control of the moment, replied: ‘Gabriele, don’t think about what will happen. We are writing history here and we will succeed. “Keep your word.”
Oriali has now developed a strong relationship with Conte and joins the staff of the Italian national team and Napoli.
“We’re talking about superstars on the bench. Coach [Conte and Mourinho] They shaped their teams so profoundly that they captured the souls of their players. ” concluded Oriali.
“For Mourinho and Conte, players speak fiery words and it’s not just a rhetorical device. Their history and the testimonies of those they have coached bear witness to that. These coaches have strong human values at their heart.”
