Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho spoke to the media ahead of his team’s match against Real Sociedad on Wednesday night. He was asked about potential transfers between now and the end of the window, to which he said: “For me, the squad is closed. The window is open, so you can never say never, there could be an opportunity, a player asks to leave, an offer too good to turn down, but I would be most happy to keep the squad as it is.”
Mourinho on the game
“First home game, but it’s one of 19. Every point is important. The
goal is to win while respecting a team that deserves respect. They have a strong identity and great players. They’ll make it a difficult match for us. Against Espanyol, we felt the support of the opposing fans for their team, and tomorrow we hope for the same from our own fans. What I hope is that the team has the same hunger to win, attitude, resilience, strength, and composure. I hope the fans will recognize that.”
Mourinho on his return to the Bernabeu
“I don’t want the Bernabéu to welcome me in any particular way. I want them to welcome the team with their passion. At one point last season, that passion was going through a difficult phase. Now we’re not starting from scratch. I’m not the most important person. I’m capable of controlling my emotions and playing normally in a match that isn’t normal because it’s for three points. I’d like the team to feel something different from what they felt last season.”
Mourinho on player fitness
Espanyol showed up with a level of intensity that we don’t have. We have a solid foundation with players who have been training longer. Playing accelerates the process of reaching peak form. Players need to play, like Cucurella. We use objective, scientific data and combine it with my experience. Feelings are also important.”
Mourinho on Fede Valverde’s position
“I don’t like it when they play him at right-back. It’s happened with his national team and in the past. For me, he’s a midfielder. He can be more positional, or more mobile. Teams need to have solutions. A full-back is a full-back, but today he can play as a winger. Or like Trent, who can play centrally. I don’t want to assign them a number; things become less defined during matches.”
Mourinho on refereeing in Spain for Barcelona and Real Madrid, and how Vini is treated
“Last year I didn’t see every game of either of them, so I can’t tell you much. What I can say is that the overall difference between Vini and other players is obvious. He’s entered a spiral; opponents feel they can do whatever they want, and they do. It’s like little kids, they only go as far as you let them. It’s a treatment I don’t like. He was kicked, which is an act of aggression; it should have been a red card. Apart from a few things, I really liked the refereeing. I understand that the referee didn’t see that red card for the kick to Vinicius. I understand that the fourth official didn’t want to. And I can say that VAR didn’t do its job very well. But I trust Spanish referees. I always trust them, in the Champions League too. I don’t think something like ‘he’s friends with Negreira,’ no. They’ve made decisions that have influenced results, but that happens.”
More on Vinicius Jr’s treatment
“There are issues on and off the field. If the insult isn’t homophobic or racist, I think he can control it and improve. The game, the tackles, and the penalties are the referee’s responsibility. I prefer to say referee rather than official in this case. With my personality, if they did that to me, it might be a red card for me (laughs). Vinicius Jr’s relationship with opposing stadiums is something we can work on.”
Mourinho on being calm
“It’s not something new, I feel calmer and I control my emotions better. Difficult situations will come. I haven’t seen any lazy people, I like that they work for Real Madrid. Maybe it’s also because the players and the people who work here are protecting me from my dark side (laughs).”
Mourinho on the three superstar attackers
“I won’t have the most complicated situation, because that’s when you don’t have top players or an injury prevents you from having quality players. I don’t want to leave myself too open to the opposition, only after playing and losing. I want all three of them, and the positives always outweigh the negatives. I’m also here to try and help.”
Mourinho on Kylian Mbappé and Carlos Espi
“We can see them together. Our evolution as a team, in preseason, was with Endrick. Espí is a different type of player. Espanyol were sitting deep and Kylian was trying to drop back for individual plays. That’s where I thought Carlos could be important. Trent also adds to the quality.”
Mourinho on Aurelien Tchouameni
“He suffered a lot at the World Cup, as is normal. He didn’t play a couple of matches, but he played in the semi-final. He has a problem, and the holiday period wasn’t enough. The player wants to try, he tried, but we decided that he can’t start the season suffering.”
Mourinho on La Liga delaying Real Madrid’s league start
“I don’t think it’s unfair. I have to thank La Liga for having the common sense to delay it another week; it would have been a problem. If we have this accumulation of matches, it’s for a positive reason. We have to play with three matches a week. If any player is struggling more, they don’t play, and someone else takes their place.”
Mourinho on Endrick’s injury
“I can’t tell you. There’s a problem with the muscle and it’s affecting the tendon. He’s a player I like a lot and he’s had a lot of contact from other clubs. I wanted him and that’s why I haven’t loaned him out or sold him. I’m not sure he’ll make Ancelotti’s first squad, but Carlo is a friend and he’ll call me directly.”
