Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho spoke at a press conference about tomorrow's match against Espanyol, which will be his first official game with his new team in the Spanish football league.
Mourinho said in statements published by the Spanish newspaper "As" regarding his expectations for the Espanyol match: "They are a good team. Teams that keep the same manager for a long period are well-prepared and have established working mechanisms and playing patterns."
He added: "Espanyol plays well and ambitiously. I liked their first match; they earned three points, scored three goals without conceding any, and made their fans happy. We are happy about what lies ahead."
Regarding his feelings before the opening match and whether he had settled on the final lineup, Mourinho confirmed: "I am fine and calm. It is a new season. It was difficult to start preparations because the players were in different groups; some had completed 36 training sessions and six matches, while others had played some matches and done five training sessions. I prepared customized training programs for each player. Some came to do individual training, and we joked that there was one player for every ten people."
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Mourinho stated: "I am very happy with the current situation. I might have wanted an extra week, but we are getting tired of friendly matches. We do not love this profession for that reason; we want real official matches. Players who suffered injuries last season will be absent for a long time, and I do not expect them to return within two or three weeks. Only Endrick, who was not part of the team last season, will be absent. As for Tchouameni, he is fine, but he must train today, tomorrow, and on Sunday to speed up his recovery. Tchouameni arrived in an incomplete physical condition that does not allow him to play the match."
Mourinho continued: "I do not feel pressure; I feel adrenaline. It is a positive thing. A day when I do not feel anything is not good. I do not feel pressure in my first appearance or in football matches either. I have great confidence in the work I train on, the players' ambition, and the mental level. The hard part is practicing passion, but I live when I travel with the conviction that I will go to achieve three points."
Responding to Yan Diomande's statement that he is ready to die for him, Mourinho said: "It is an expression I like, regardless of analyzing the phrase literally. I would have preferred if he said he was ready to die for the team, for Real Madrid, but I understand what he means regarding the team and the club when he mentions my name. Words are easy, but action is hard. What Diomande said is no different from what I have felt from everyone. I see them as committed and having the desire to do things right. The team is growing, and there is cohesion. We are not a perfect team, and no one is. I do not delude myself that we will be free of problems; they will inevitably happen, but the team is strong in its essence, and Diomande's message applies to everyone."
Speaking about the details of the conversation with Tchouameni and Valverde, Mourinho said: "I had a lot of information. I have been here for three years and have my own sources, just as you do in the press. I realized many things, not only regarding Tchouameni and Federico. We will start a new page. I did not need to talk to Tchouameni; everything seemed normal to me. If you watched how they interacted without knowing about the previous problem, you could not even imagine what happened last season. I was told I should not intervene or use my influence to establish peace, but it is not about that; it is about friendship, cooperation, and natural things. The situation looks as if nothing ever happened."
When asked if he considers this season successful, Mourinho said: "There are many ways to look at it, but the only realistic way is to look at the results. You can develop significantly in several areas, expand the organizational structure, and make many changes, but results are the most important criterion. We are competing in three major competitions and there is another lesser tournament, so finishing the season without winning any titles is not a success."
Completing his thoughts on giving more opportunities to Real Madrid academy players, Mourinho said: "Three players will be present tomorrow. I prefer to work with a maximum of 22 players. Cestero, Cheria, and Rivas occupy vacant positions and are doing great work. I want to motivate the youth and open the door for them, and the time will come for many of them later."
When asked if he is satisfied with his team captains, Mourinho said: "I am satisfied with all of them. I think they have started to get to know me. They have the ability to analyze, understand, and observe. I want them to know me through their analysis, not my words. They play in a defensive style. There is unity in the team and a sense of empathy. The players help me avoid problems, and the captains receive help to enjoy a period of calm."
Explaining the reasons for choosing Sami Khedira and excluding Bento, Mourinho said: "Joining a new club is always difficult. I try to make as many changes as possible and rely on people who help me instill a specific mentality and working style. I rely on people I have great confidence in. There are seven performance analysts, and I hired only one. I am very happy, and all they need is to fit my working style. In every club, I prefer having someone from within the system."
Analyzing Real Madrid during the current period, Mourinho said: "We must stick to the fundamentals without compromise. We must be primarily committed in every match and overcome moments of frustration, whether personal or due to results. Players may feel frustrated by my choices, and they must deal with it individually and collectively. I cannot field 15 players in a match; only 11 can play. The players give their best, but the decision will be easy for me if someone feels frustrated."
Continuing on the defensive role of forwards, Mourinho said: "It varies depending on the match and the opponent. We must defend with 11 players. That may mean a lot of things. We must defend if the team is pressing us in our half, but if we are playing in their half, we must press and attack. We must give our best, and one of these ways is pressing alongside closing down spaces. Some players will have to press hard, and others will close down spaces. Some players should not wait for the ball; that idea does not work. There will be no problems if the players' reaction is excellent."
Revealing his opinion on Vinicius's contract renewal, Mourinho said: "It was not surprising. It was the first question in my mind: whether he wants to stay or not. I was told he wants to, and I felt relieved. I do not want to speculate about his role, but he is among the top 10 players, and the best should be here."
Evaluating his experience with Real Madrid, Mourinho said: "I am not the type who regrets the past or misses things. I returned to Portugal only for a few months last year after leaving it 20 years ago. There is not much for me to miss, and I do not think about what I leave behind. It is a pleasure for me that my work had a positive impact, but the titles belong to Ancelotti, Zidane, the players, and the fans. I also feel things towards Roma, Inter, and Chelsea, and I always wish them success. I do not talk about Benfica because they have something more valuable than these clubs."
Continuing regarding Vinicius Junior, Mourinho said: "He faced some problems in the past. I see that he wants to win and knows what I want. Without a doubt, I believe he is happy and feels comfortable with how we prepare for matches, and he wants to win from day one. Every short conversation before he signed his new contract ended with the phrase: We will improve, we will win again, we will be happy. We always keep this in mind."
When asked about the lineup for his first match with Real Madrid, Mourinho said: "The players know who will play. I do not hide things. Information may arrive within two hours. There is no perfect lineup for me. The door to competition is open. There will be matches every three days, then a three-week break, and you do not know how ready they will be when they return. We know how we want to build our defense and play against teams with different formations. We are building tactical awareness. We have players like Dumfries, Arnold, Cucurella, and Carrias, and it is impossible for one to play 50 minutes and others 10 minutes. That is not possible because they are high-quality players, like many others."
Concluding on his need to sign a midfielder, Mourinho said: "I do not think we suffer from a lack in this position. Signing one would be a great addition, and we have Tchouameni, Bernardo, and Guler, so we do not have a problem."
Regarding integrating Vinicius, Mbappe, and Bellingham, Mourinho said: "They are exceptional players who want to play with exceptional players. Big players feel frustrated when they play with players who do not have the same level. Tactical compatibility may be more difficult. Ancelotti found the best lineup for Vinicius, just as Deschamps did with Mbappe and Tuchel with Bellingham. It is difficult for me to find a perfect lineup for all of them. They must do it because they believe in their ability to perform well. They are top-class players, their positions are not conflicting, and we will have a great season with them."
Revealing the advice he would give to his current self from 2013, Mourinho said: "It is a philosophical and difficult question. Today's Mourinho, who has the ability to give advice to 2013's Mourinho? Do you give advice to your father, or does he give it to you? You must always be calm, and that has become easier than it was five, ten, or twenty years ago. You might get red cards every season, and that is not a type of calm. If you multiply 24 by 7, you get many hours in football, and you must maintain your calm in those hours. I am better than I was when I arrived and when I left."
Mourinho concluded by addressing the timing of his arrival, stating that this is his team: “It is my team, whether it is good or bad. But if you are talking about the concept of a perfect team, the answer is no. We need to improve on a daily basis. I like teams where the manager stays for two or three years; that helps the team more through the accumulation of information and understanding. The team always has room for development, and we still have a long way to go. We have a crucial match ahead, and the competition will not wait for us. When I say the best is yet to come, I mean the matches, not the players. We now have points at stake after having taken our friendly matches seriously, and we must give it our all.”
