Real Madrid have significantly improved their form since their defeat to Atletico Madrid before the start of the September international break. Since that match, the Merengues have been on a roll, winning all of their games against Villarreal, AS Roma, Sevilla, and RB Leipzig.
However, they have a significantly more difficult match awaiting them next, as they will travel to Catalonia to face FC Barcelona in the first El Clasico of this season.
As MARCA has reported, ahead of this game, Jose Mourinho held his customary press conference and talked about several aspects of the team and the upcoming match. The Portuguese coach believed the form of either of the teams would not matter much in this match:
“Good momentum. We’re in good shape and scoring goals. From my experience playing in Clásicos and derbies, what happened before doesn’t mean much.”
The Real Madrid coach was ready to take the blame for any failure faced by his team:
“I have the feeling that Madrid is just like that. I want nothing more than for my players to receive credit when they do well and for their manager to be criticised when we do less well. That’s the story of every manager. The players win some matches, and the managers lose others. That’s our life. There are at least two Clásicos every season. The most important thing is their global significance. There are other important matches, but this one is unique. The world stops to watch it.”
Mourinho was clear that this match will not define the season for the Merengues:
“Is this going to be the ultimate test for you? It isn’t. Madrid win trophies with Mourinho.”
Ahead of this game, the Portuguese tactician had only good wishes for the referee:
“You’ve caught me off guard with that question. The referee’s name never bothers me. I always start from the assumption that the referee is good. What bothers me a little is when the rules are broken. So far, according to the information I’ve received internally, they haven’t been broken. Several referees’ names have been mentioned. Nobody has told me, ‘This is the referee.’ Whoever it is, I wish them well.”
The Real Madrid coach did not believe Barcelona’s loss to PSG would affect the Blaugrana team much in the upcoming match:
“The defeat in Paris tells me nothing. If we’d lost 4–1 to Leipzig instead of winning 4–1, I’d have been in exactly the same frame of mind for this match.”
Mourinho was ready to give the Blaugranes credit for their good start to the season and asked for more patience with his team:
“The people who thought a week ago that Barça could thrash us still think the same now. I don’t think that view will change. The fact that people speak highly of Barça doesn’t affect me. To be honest, there are matches in which they obviously deserve plenty of praise because they do some very good things.
In our case, we’re viewed as a finished product. Finished products are difficult to achieve in football. If you talk about us at an advanced stage of the process, we’ve been working for three months. If you exclude pre-season and the international break, we’ve been working for a month and a half. Far from being a finished product, we’re at the very beginning of the process.
Our manager is still getting to know the team, analysing things and establishing his approach. The players are still getting to know me, too. I don’t think it’s fair to compare a team like ours with one that has been together for longer.”
While recognizing Lamine Yamal’s talent, the Portuguese coach assured his team would not change its approach too much to contain him:
“Lamine? They’re all very good players. It’s the same at Madrid. I haven’t been able to find a player who isn’t very good. He’s a great player. Respecting an opponent is one thing; changing your plans or forgetting your own identity is another. We won’t do that, not for him or for any other high-quality opponent.”
Mourinho also had some words of praise for Hansi Flick:
“I don’t understand why I’m being asked questions about our opponents. He’s a great manager and is doing an excellent job. I can’t say anything more.”
The Real Madrid coach once again recognized his opponents’ strength, but assured that playing at the Spotify Camp Nou is just like playing at any other away stadium:
“It’s just like going to any other stadium. We’re talking about a team of great quality. Playing against a high-quality team is not the same as playing against a team of lesser quality.”
Reacting to Fermin Lopez’s words, the Portuguese coach took another veiled shot at the refereeing:
“Perhaps. There are other things that keep happening that we’re getting tired of.”
Mourinho also assured that him supporting a beard has nothing to do with superstitions:
“I’m not superstitious at all. Do I look terrible with a beard? Should I change it? (Laughs.) I’m one of the few people in football without any superstitions.”
The Real Madrid coach was not too ready to reveal his starting lineup:
“Yes, but I can’t answer that question. I won’t discuss plans or tactical structures. You’re clever, but I’m not stupid. (Laughs.)“
Jose Mourinho took his Real Madrid team into some memorable matches against Barcelona during his first stint on the Merengue bench. Hopefully, he will be able to turn the recent trend in El Clasicos and get his side a win in this crucial game on Sunday, and make this upcoming match another memorable meeting between the two sides.