Jose Mourinho addressed the media on Saturday ahead of the ‘Clasico’ clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
How is the squad feeling?
We are in a good moment—winning matches, playing well, scoring goals… But heading into El ‘Clasico’, I do not believe past form carries any weight whatsoever. These are unique fixtures, and my experience across every ‘Clasico’ and derby I have ever managed tells me momentum counts for very little.
Is the team not getting enough credit?
I get the impression that is simply part of life at Real Madrid. I only want credit for my players when they perform, and criticism directed at their coach whenever we fall short. That is how football history works—not just at Real Madrid, but for virtually every manager on the planet. Players win matches and managers lose them; that is our reality. You also asked about my return to El ‘Clasico’… Madrid and Barcelona face each other at least twice every season, often more. The managers on the touchline are secondary. What truly matters is the global magnitude of El ‘Clasico’, which is completely peerless. Other massive derbies exist across world football, but this one stands alone. The entire sporting world grinds to a halt to watch it, and hopefully it delivers a great spectacle… with us coming out on top.
Is this the ultimate acid test?
No. Mourinho’s Madrid win trophies.
The Martinez Munuera leak
That he paid Negreira’s son? You have caught me off guard with that one. The referee’s name never troubles me; I always work on the assumption that the official is competent. It makes no difference to me whether it is A, B, or C. What does concern me is when rules are broken—which so far, according to our internal information, has not occurred. Three weeks ago one referee’s name surfaced, this week another… But inside Real Madrid, nobody has approached me to say, “Boss, this is the referee.” Whoever takes charge, I wish them the very best.
Barca’s defeat
If we had lost 4-1 to Leipzig instead of winning 4-1, my mentality would remain identical. Nor do I expect Barcelona to lose confidence or alter their perspective simply because they slipped up in one fixture.
Is there genuinely that big a gulf between the sides?
No. Those who believed a week ago that Barca could blow us away still think that now. Neither the Paris match nor our victory over Leipzig will change their minds. Outside praise for Barcelona does not affect me; it is irrelevant to our work. In all honesty, there are matches where they thoroughly deserve the plaudits because they play magnificent football. As for us, I suspect outsiders view us as a finished product—and finished products in football are virtually nonexistent; they are merely projects at an advanced stage. We have been working together for three months. Strip away pre-season when players were arriving in dribs and drabs, deduct the three weeks lost to international duty, and we have realistically had barely two months on the training ground. Yet people talk about us as a complete article. We are nowhere near that. We are a developing side where the coach is still evaluating, analysing, and implementing pathways, and where the squad is adapting to their manager and his methods. Comparing a team in this embryonic phase to setups built over several seasons is unfair. Beyond that, when standards slip or results elude us, criticism simply comes with the territory.
Lamine Yamal
They possess extraordinary talent, just as we do at Madrid. Across both Madrid and FC Barcelona, I cannot find a single player who is not world-class. Lamine is a fantastic player, and you must respect elite quality. However, respecting an opponent is one thing; tearing up your plans, shifting tactical frameworks, and abandoning your identity is quite another. We will not do that for Lamine or for any other elite opponent we face.
Hansi Flick
I do not understand why you constantly ask me about our rivals. What would you like me to say about Flick? He is a fantastic manager doing an exceptional job, and that is that. I have nothing further to add.
Returning to the Camp Nou: does it feel like your first spell?
It feels like visiting any other ground. Naturally, we are facing top-calibre opposition, and playing against an elite side is never the same as facing lesser teams, but that is all. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Are you superstitious?
Not at all. I must be one of the rare figures in football who is not, but genuinely, not in the slightest. Did we win because I kept the beard? Do I look terrible with it? (laughs) No, nothing of the sort. I really must be one of the few people in this sport who avoids superstition.
Have you decided on your starting lineup?
Yes, yes. Yes.
Fermin Lopez claimed everyone is tired of the referee narrative
What can I say? We are fed up with plenty of other things that keep unfolding, and Fermin Lopez is tired of our narrative. That is just the way it goes.
What is your tactical blueprint for El ‘Clasico’?
I am not going to answer that. You would be better off asking something else, because discussing game plans, team selection, tactical shape, or strategic direction is something I simply will not do.
Are Barca defensively fragile?
You are clever, but I am not stupid.
