José Mourinho has explained how using midfielders Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham to attack spaces behind Barcelona’s defensive line can provide an effective way to break down the Spanish side.

Mourinho said he advised Camavinga to push forward and exploit spaces, while Aurélien Tchouaméni remained deeper to provide defensive protection.

According to the Portuguese coach, conventional attacking runs from strikers can be difficult to execute against Barcelona because the team’s defence is well-drilled in maintaining its line and catching forwards offside.

He also pointed to Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García’s ability to intercept passes as another challenge for teams attempting to penetrate their defence.

Mourinho argued that midfielders making forward runs can offer a different attacking threat, as their movement may disrupt the defensive structure and create openings that strikers alone might struggle to find.

“I told Camavinga that Tchouaméni would stay back and protect the defence, and that you would attack the space,” Mourinho said.

He added that the approach involved using midfielders such as Camavinga and Bellingham to break through Barcelona’s defensive line, saying the tactic proved effective.