Portuguese manager José Mourinho of Spanish club Real Madrid emphasized the importance of the match against Real Betis in the Spanish league, pointing out that his team must be at its best.
Real Madrid will face their counterpart Real Betis on Friday evening in the fourth round of the Spanish league.
José Mourinho's press conference before the match against Real Betis
Mourinho said in statements during the press conference before the match against Real Betis: "Real Madrid must be at its best. Real Betis is a very good team, and to win, you must be in your absolute best form."
Regarding Messi's retirement, Mourinho said: "Talking about Messi is complicated. There are no words to describe him. He is one of those players you will miss. We have to watch some of his matches in the American league, which I really don't like. There are players we always miss, and we know what it means."
When asked about Julián Álvarez's situation, the Portuguese manager replied: "No one knows the situation better than Simeone. I don't see that I have anything to say about it. I say that when a player is not satisfied and September 1st arrives, he must be content, otherwise he will not play until January. From yesterday onwards, and at least until December, he will be an important player for his club."
He added: "La Liga? Atlético Madrid will be a strong competitor, as they certainly believe and feel capable of it. This stability with the same manager and mentality is a significant strength in football. Then there are strong teams in the Champions League like Real Betis and Villarreal, and we will see that tomorrow. Also, all the Basque teams are stubborn. For me, this league is not easy. There is pressure that does not exist in other leagues, which is the pressure of always winning. In Germany or France, players have peace of mind because they will win the title every time. Here, a result that does not bring a win is not a good result."
He continued: "Academy players? Many of them work with me sometimes, and even those who do not come, we follow with great interest. They have done a great job in recent years, and the result is that they have been promoted to the first team. As the season progresses, with suspensions and injuries, opportunities will always arise. I know them better every time, and we have daily communication. All these players can dream. I will not take them all, but they can be enthusiastic about the idea of being promoted to the first team."
Mourinho concluded his statements: "Facing Pellegrini? I never hold a grudge because we cannot turn back time. The history of football is very long, and there are things you say or do that make you feel foolish and that you feel you were wrong. I have made silly comments. He is a great example as a manager and as a human being."
