Jose Mourinho appeared in the Valdebebas press room to comment on the upcoming Clásico against Barcelona, which will be held at the Camp Nou at 9:00 p.m. The Portuguese coach highlighted Real Madrid's good form, pointing out that the team "is in good shape, winning and scoring goals." However, he warned that the Classic is a different event from the rest of the matches, because “what has been done before is not worth it, it doesn't make much sense,” and that the magnitude of the match is unique worldwide.
The coach also spoke about the perception that the club receives. “I have the feeling that Real Madrid is like that,” he said, referring to the pressure of receiving credit when players succeed and criticism when the result is not favorable. Mourinho explained that this dynamic is common among coaches around the world, since “some games are won by the players and others are lost by the coaches.” Regarding the rivalry with Barcelona, the coach stressed that the identity of the Clásico does not depend on the coach, but on the importance of the match for world football.
During the interview, Mourinho answered questions about refereeing and the influence of Barcelona's defeat against PSG. He commented that “I don't think that having lost a game changes his state of mind or confidence,” and that the way Barcelona is perceived does not affect him personally. Likewise, he stated that Real Madrid is not a “finished product”, since “we are in an initial phase, with three months of work and a preseason in which the players arrived a couple each week.”
The coach also spoke about his players, such as Lamine Yamal and Flick. He pointed out that “they are all good” and that their structure or essence will not change, and that Flick is a great coach who “is doing an excellent job.” Regarding the strategy for the Classic, Mourinho avoided giving specific details, stating that he would not answer questions about his match plans.
Finally, the coach confirmed that he has already decided on the starting eleven for the match with Barcelona and that he is not influenced by superstitions, such as the beard he wears. With his sights set on the Camp Nou, Mourinho concluded that the Clásico will be another challenge that Real Madrid must face with its usual intensity and professionalism.