Real Madrid coach José Mourinho talked to Real Madrid TV right after the team’s 2-2 draw against Fiorentina on Saturday. The Portuguese coach was happy with the performance and pointed at their physical condition as the main reason why Fiorentina were able to score twice.
“I liked everything. On the phone, I saw ‘A Madrid with two faces.’ It was a Madrid with three faces: fresh, tired, and super tired. The fresh team played very well, and the 2-1 scoreline at halftime was far too short. The first
half was of very high quality, and we could have been leading three or four to nil comfortably. In the second half, the game became more physical against a typically Italian team with great physicality. They applied some pressure, and the second face started to show at the beginning of the second half. After that, we saw Moise Kean playing in the area against two 18-year-olds, who had a great game and are growing, but physically, they are not yet at the level to handle someone like Moise, who is a fantastic player. The third face, which I also liked a lot, was the super tired face, but where the team knew how to be a team, control the game, and regain dominance ,” said Mourinho.
The Portuguese coach still admitted that he wants to see more from his team.
“This is Real Madrid with the players we have. As I told the boys before the match, Real Madrid is Real Madrid. Whether it’s a friendly or a training match, it’s Real Madrid. We have to seek evolution but also achieve results to honor our history. I had to put on the field the men I had available. I had to pair Trent and Dumfries together and try to find a dynamic that would allow this style of play. We only worked yesterday in preparation for the match because the goal is not to work on just one game. We did a little organizational work to have a team that knows what to do on the field. I am very happy with the work of the boys from day one,“ he added.
Mourinho also praised the players who had been training for a handful of days yet managed to make an impact.
“Dumfries and Endrick trained for three days and played more than 70 minutes. It’s a fantastic effort that, to me, signifies a willingness to give their all. I liked everything, and I thanked Grosso for the training session they gave us, which was very good. Joan and Mario are two kids with a fantastic future who displayed tremendous class as long as the game didn’t get too physical. I loved seeing the quality of the youngsters. It was a mix of the academy players with the seven ‘men’ we have available, two of whom trained for only three days. Then we brought in Carlos, who trained with us for just an hour yesterday, to help us and get a taste of what Real Madrid is all about,“ he explained.
Real Madrid will have to find a way to keep building their team without some key stars.
“I’m concerned about not having everyone, and I would like to have three weeks of work with the others. It’s not possible. On Monday, Vini Jr., Brahim, and Bernardo will arrive. Dumfries, Carlos, and Endrick will already have a few more days of work. Little by little, until the boys who played in the World Cup semifinals and final arrive, with the final being only Cucurella,“ he concluded.
