Real Madrid coach José Mourinho commented on Harry Kane's Ballon d'Or during the pre-match press conference against Santander Racing. The Portuguese expressed great satisfaction with the awarding of the award to Kane, recalling having coached him in the past and defining him as "a great player, a great professional and a great person". While congratulating the English goalkeeper, Mourinho dedicated special words to Kylian Mbappé, calling him "unique" and underlining that, although the award is awarded every year, only a few players such as Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Nazário and Platini have won it more than once, Mbappé represents an unparalleled level of excellence.
Another surprise that emerged during his interview was JudeBellingham's position in the Ballon d'Or rankings, where he came eleventh. Mourinho said he was "speechless" at the surprise and closed the comment without further explanation.
Speaking about himself, Mourinho reiterated that he doesn't worry about criticism and considers himself a balanced manager, open to study and reflection. He recalled the results of his first experience at Real Madrid, with the aim of achieving the same score and number of goals in the current season. He also highlighted his ability to adapt as a strength, describing himself as a calm coach and ready to change strategy if necessary.
Finally, the coach mentioned the case of Mbappé and the controversy with China, underlining the class and intelligence of the French player and the need to remain calm in a world where words can have consequences. Mourinho ended the interview with a promise to continue focusing on Real Madrid's results.