According to a post shared by Fabrizio Romano on X on Monday, October 26, 2026, José Mourinho has revealed how he instructed Eduardo Camavinga to exploit the spaces behind Barcelona’s defence, stressing the importance of midfield runs in breaking down Hansi Flick’s tactical setup.

Mourinho disclosed that he specifically urged the French midfielder to make forward runs into open spaces, believing that midfielders offered a more effective way to penetrate Barcelona’s well-organised defensive line.

“I told Camavinga, go and attack the space,” Mourinho said.

The Portuguese tactician explained that Barcelona’s defensive structure makes it challenging for opposing attackers to find openings and successfully run in behind the backline.

According to Mourinho, the Catalan side’s defenders are well-coached and prepared to anticipate forward movements, making it difficult for attackers to create clear-cut opportunities.

“It's difficult for any attackers to attack space against Barcelona, the only solution is to do it with your midfielders,” he explained.

Mourinho further noted that when forwards attempt to exploit spaces behind Barcelona’s defence, they frequently get caught offside or have their passes intercepted by goalkeeper Joan García.

“When your attackers do it, Barca's defense is prepared and coached for that, and your attackers end up being offside, or the pass ends up being cut by Joan Garcia,” he said.

The former Real Madrid manager identified forward runs from midfield as a crucial tactical alternative against Barcelona’s defensive organisation.

Instead of depending solely on attackers to stretch the opposition’s backline, Mourinho recommended using midfielders arriving from deeper positions to disrupt the defensive structure and create scoring opportunities.

He specifically highlighted Camavinga and Jude Bellingham as players capable of making such runs and causing problems for Barcelona.

“The solution is to use midfielders like Camavinga and Bellingham to break that line, and it worked,” he added.

Mourinho’s comments emphasise the tactical value of well-timed midfield runs against a defence that is trained to anticipate conventional attacking movements.

By encouraging Camavinga and Bellingham to move into available spaces, the Portuguese coach aimed to unsettle Barcelona’s defensive organisation and create opportunities to advance beyond the backline.