Jose Mourinho, the coach of Real Madrid, has once again attracted attention with statements that foreground the international magnitude of the classics instead of focusing on the technical ones. In the press conference prior to the LaLiga matchday 10 match against Barcelona, the Portuguese stated that "it doesn't matter much who the coaches are; the most important thing is the global dimension of a classic that is unique." For Mourinho, the rivalry between both teams transcends the figures of the managers, because "the world in love with football sees it and enjoys it", and what really matters to him is that the match is "a great match and that we win."
Mourinho's message also included a reflection on the importance of players compared to coaches. “The players win the games and the coaches lose them,” he said, emphasizing that the individual quality of the teams is what determines the result. When asked about Barcelona coach Hansi Flick, the Portuguese showed respect for his work, calling him “a great coach who is doing an excellent job.” Regarding the quality of the opponent's players, Mourinho did not hesitate to praise figures such as Lamine Yamal, describing him as “a great player” and highlighting that “great players are respected.”
Mourinho also addressed the perception that some fans have about the possibility of Barcelona overtaking Real Madrid. “People who a week ago thought that Barça could beat us; I think they think the same,” he admitted, but assured that the public's opinion does not affect his approach. “To be honest, there are moments, there are games, when they obviously deserve to be talked about very well when they do very good things,” he concluded, indicating that the assessment of the rival's performance is based on concrete performance and not on previous expectations.
Regarding the team's preparation, Mourinho emphasized the need to maintain the essence and structure of Real Madrid. “We are not going to change plans, structures, forget our essence,” he stated, emphasizing that the club's identity is essential to face high-level matches. The coach also recalled that the Camp Nou is “the same as going to another stadium”, pointing out that the quality of the rival does not change the importance of the team's preparation and concentration.
With the match just around the corner, Real Madrid is preparing to face Barcelona in a classic that, according to Mourinho, will continue to be a global spectacle. The coach's focus is on the quality of his players and the preservation of Madrid's identity, while the immediate objective is to secure victory in the matchday 10 of LaLiga.