Broadcaster Movistar Plus Deportes zoomed in on the touchline drama as Real Madrid managed the closing stages of their 2-1 win, capturing a heated moment between the head coach and his assistant while they organised the team's substitutions.
"Tension over the changes. Sparks flew between Mourinho and his assistant as they managed the substitutions on the touchline," the broadcaster's coverage noted.
The moment came in the 93rd minute, as Carlos Espí prepared to replace Kylian Mbappé, one of Real Madrid's two second-half changes as they attempted to see out the win against a resurgent Inter side. Cameras also picked up on Mourinho's frustration elsewhere on the touchline during the closing stages, with the Portuguese repeatedly demanding more from his players as Inter pushed for an equaliser following Carlos Augusto's goal.
"Mou's anger. Mourinho demanded more intensity from his players," the broadcaster's coverage of the moment read.
The flashpoints came during a tense finish in which Real Madrid, 2-0 up at the interval, saw their advantage narrowed as Inter grew into the game after the break.
Mourinho made a series of changes in the closing stages, bringing on Aurélien Tchouaméni and Yan Diomandé for Brahim Díaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold before Espí replaced Mbappé in stoppage time, as Real Madrid held on for a first Champions League win of the season despite the visible frustration from their touchline throughout the closing exchanges.
Nuno Santos is part of the coaching staff Mourinho assembled at the Santiago Bernabéu this summer, and moments of visible frustration between a manager and his bench staff during high-stakes matches are far from unusual, particularly in a game as fraught as Tuesday's proved to be.
Mourinho addressed the broader tension of the occasion in his post-match press conference, describing the contest as a "crazy game" that could easily have finished with several more goals at either end, and made no reference to the touchline exchange when speaking to the media afterwards. The result nonetheless leaves Real Madrid with a maximum three points from their opening Champions League fixture, regardless of the nervous circumstances in which it was secured.