Mourinho: “We are up against a tough opponent and need to secure the points”
“The preparation hasn't been easy because we stayed here with five players and have only had two days together,” added our coach.
José Mourinho addressed the media in the press room of the Ciudad Real Madrid and analyzed the match against Villarreal, corresponding to the eighth matchday of LaLiga (Saturday, 9:00 pm CEST; Orange TV and Movistar LaLiga): "They are a tough opponent, a Champions League rival. They are a high-level team that plays very well and still doesn't have the points they will end up with. They will be much higher in the standings. After losing the last match, we need to secure the points. The preparation hasn't been easy. We stayed here with five players, and the others were arriving from their national teams and after the few days off we could give them. We've had two days together, but it doesn't change much. To be fair, Villarreal also had players with their national teams. They haven't had the perfect week either."
"For me, a player is a player 24 hours a day. If they do something important in their private life, it always has repercussions. A football player will always be a human being, capable of making mistakes, but they will always have a sense of responsibility. I think you know me. I can try to be smart and avoid some of the more complicated questions I might be asked, but I don't lie. During this period, the Real Madrid players have been exemplary in their professional conduct. We've worked hard here to ensure they are well. Everything is perfectly defined, and we manage their rest. Everyone who left has complied. Those who got injured came immediately to Valdebebas, were diagnosed, and continued their recovery."
“For example, Arda Güler, who was suspended for the fourth match of his national team, I gave him two days off that were not scheduled. Those with significant injuries who were supposed to be at Valdebebas have been there, like Valverde and Konaté. Regarding your example of Mbappé, he has been here, got diagnosed, and went for a second opinion because there is something in his knee that cannot be overlooked. Both diagnoses coincided completely. The recovery details are not something you need to know.”
“Then we enter the realm of problem hunting. First, it was the nightclub that wasn’t actually a nightclub. It was a nightclub transformed during Paris Fashion Week for a private event. Next, the bicycle, which was simply in a hotel of small houses where there were a couple of bikes to get to the central area with the spa and common areas in a hotel of absolute tranquility. And we arrive at minor cases, like poor Huijsen, who was parked in front of Thiago's house sending a message and suddenly became almost a criminal accused of being on the highway at 200 km/h texting. It’s ridiculous.”
“You want a story... I’ll find one for you. It’s the first time in the last ten years that Madrid reaches mid-October without injured players; those who are injured are from last season. Militão, who is already training with us but comes from last season; Rodrygo, who also comes from last season; Asencio and Mendy as well... It’s a good story, but you don’t like it.”
Analysis of the team’s condition
“When you have little effective work on the field to do, you have much more time to analyze every detail. In this first period, we have found many good things and others we need to improve. But that doesn’t mean we need to change something drastically. For that, you need work and time. Yesterday, I read something curious that shouldn’t happen at Madrid. Mikel Arteta renewed his contract at Arsenal. He’s been there four or five years and said they’re still just starting and that there’s a lot to do.”
“Real Madrid comes from a challenging period in recent seasons, and what might be normal for others isn’t here. Madrid has won so much that everything has a different magnitude. We need time to improve. As a coach, I don’t shy away from saying that we lost against Atlético because the match should have been 11 against 9. That’s true, but I can’t dwell on it. I have to look for improvements in areas under our control, and we’re doing that. Tomorrow, we’ll try to make adjustments to improve in some aspects.”
Will Diomande play with Vini Jr. and Mbappé?
“I’m not answering whether he will play or not. I don’t lie, and I don’t want to say the lineup that will play. Real Madrid can play with any of the squad players because we have many quality players. They can’t all play together. Four attackers can, but in a balanced situation with controlled risks, six or seven together like against Elche isn’t possible. Diomande, Vini Jr., Mbappé, and someone else could play together, but not all attackers.”
International break weeks
“I’ve spent two or three consecutive days after the last match trying to analyze all possible details to avoid falling into the obvious. But that’s not under my control because that match should have been played 9 against 11. But I didn’t want to dwell on that. Afterward, I spent several days with my family, working a lot. Not much on the field, but preparing in detail for the gradual return of my players. These returns are complex because some have played minutes, others haven’t, another has jetlag... but we’re working very well in terms of organization. This situation of not having injuries is something we don’t overlook; it helps us understand that many things have changed and that we’re preparing the future as best as we can.”
Valverde and Militão
“Valverde is a doubt; Militão is not a doubt because he won’t be available. Seeing him train and how he’s doing makes me happy. We’ve never trained as five; we were always 20 with academy players. I joke every day with Militão and the therapists, telling him he’s going to play. I knew he was good, but he’s even better. But he won’t be available tomorrow, nor in Rome, nor against Sevilla. He still needs a couple of weeks. Mendy is joining us on the field for the first time today, and Rodrygo is a bit further off. The issue with Valverde has persisted until today. Today, we’ll decide what tomorrow will look like.”
Is there meritocracy?
“Meritocracy, yes, but also an openness not for the name but for the moment. You also have to know the best way to help a particular player. There are players who, when not at their best, need different strategies to improve. One is pure meritocracy: if you’re not doing well, you’re out. But pure meritocracy has its risks. Some players take longer to return to their normal level. Maybe you’re referring to Vini. I don’t hide. What makes me sad is understanding that he wants to be well, to be the one who wins matches, titles, and makes the difference. What hurts me is feeling this pain he feels, being a boy who is extraordinary and works hard to come back.”
“Will he always play until our Vini returns, or will there come a time for a specific plan that involves him not playing or going to the bench to find another way to help him? I don’t touch true and pure madridismo. I only respect it. But it hurts my heart that people, probably influenced by many of you, aren’t helping him. He deserves to be helped. He wants so much to be the Vini who has brought so much joy to madridismo.”
Possible whistles for Mbappé
“If that happens, it will be a victory for you, not pointing fingers at anyone in particular. In fact, in recent weeks, I thought you had enough real cases in the football world... but apparently, that wasn’t enough. Neither big cases like City’s, the difficult situation in my country with Cristiano and his coach... So many cases that could fuel your work, but it wasn’t enough. Madrid is Madrid, and there always has to be something. I was expecting the first question to be the only one about the match. A difficult match that has to be won. It seems ridiculous to me.”
“For example, Arda Güler, who was suspended for the fourth match of his national team, I gave him two days off that were not scheduled. Those with significant injuries who were supposed to be at Valdebebas have been there, like Valverde and Konaté. Regarding your example of Mbappé, he has been here, got diagnosed, and went for a second opinion because there is something in his knee that cannot be overlooked. Both diagnoses coincided completely. The recovery details are not something you need to know.”
“Then we enter the realm of problem hunting. First, it was the nightclub that wasn’t actually a nightclub. It was a nightclub transformed during Paris Fashion Week for a private event. Next, the bicycle, which was simply in a hotel of small houses where there were a couple of bikes to get to the central area with the spa and common areas in a hotel of absolute tranquility. And we arrive at minor cases, like poor Huijsen, who was parked in front of Thiago's house sending a message and suddenly became almost a criminal accused of being on the highway at 200 km/h texting. It’s ridiculous.”
“You want a story... I’ll find one for you. It’s the first time in the last ten years that Madrid reaches mid-October without injured players; those who are injured are from last season. Militão, who is already training with us but comes from last season; Rodrygo, who also comes from last season; Asencio and Mendy as well... It’s a good story, but you don’t like it.”
Analysis of the team’s condition
“When you have little effective work on the field to do, you have much more time to analyze every detail. In this first period, we have found many good things and others we need to improve. But that doesn’t mean we need to change something drastically. For that, you need work and time. Yesterday, I read something curious that shouldn’t happen at Madrid. Mikel Arteta renewed his contract at Arsenal. He’s been there four or five years and said they’re still just starting and that there’s a lot to do.”
“Real Madrid comes from a challenging period in recent seasons, and what might be normal for others isn’t here. Madrid has won so much that everything has a different magnitude. We need time to improve. As a coach, I don’t shy away from saying that we lost against Atlético because the match should have been 11 against 9. That’s true, but I can’t dwell on it. I have to look for improvements in areas under our control, and we’re doing that. Tomorrow, we’ll try to make adjustments to improve in some aspects.”
Will Diomande play with Vini Jr. and Mbappé?
“I’m not answering whether he will play or not. I don’t lie, and I don’t want to say the lineup that will play. Real Madrid can play with any of the squad players because we have many quality players. They can’t all play together. Four attackers can, but in a balanced situation with controlled risks, six or seven together like against Elche isn’t possible. Diomande, Vini Jr., Mbappé, and someone else could play together, but not all attackers.”
International break weeks
“I’ve spent two or three consecutive days after the last match trying to analyze all possible details to avoid falling into the obvious. But that’s not under my control because that match should have been played 9 against 11. But I didn’t want to dwell on that. Afterward, I spent several days with my family, working a lot. Not much on the field, but preparing in detail for the gradual return of my players. These returns are complex because some have played minutes, others haven’t, another has jetlag... but we’re working very well in terms of organization. This situation of not having injuries is something we don’t overlook; it helps us understand that many things have changed and that we’re preparing the future as best as we can.”
Valverde and Militão
“Valverde is a doubt; Militão is not a doubt because he won’t be available. Seeing him train and how he’s doing makes me happy. We’ve never trained as five; we were always 20 with academy players. I joke every day with Militão and the therapists, telling him he’s going to play. I knew he was good, but he’s even better. But he won’t be available tomorrow, nor in Rome, nor against Sevilla. He still needs a couple of weeks. Mendy is joining us on the field for the first time today, and Rodrygo is a bit further off. The issue with Valverde has persisted until today. Today, we’ll decide what tomorrow will look like.”
Is there meritocracy?
“Meritocracy, yes, but also an openness not for the name but for the moment. You also have to know the best way to help a particular player. There are players who, when not at their best, need different strategies to improve. One is pure meritocracy: if you’re not doing well, you’re out. But pure meritocracy has its risks. Some players take longer to return to their normal level. Maybe you’re referring to Vini. I don’t hide. What makes me sad is understanding that he wants to be well, to be the one who wins matches, titles, and makes the difference. What hurts me is feeling this pain he feels, being a boy who is extraordinary and works hard to come back.”
“Will he always play until our Vini returns, or will there come a time for a specific plan that involves him not playing or going to the bench to find another way to help him? I don’t touch true and pure madridismo. I only respect it. But it hurts my heart that people, probably influenced by many of you, aren’t helping him. He deserves to be helped. He wants so much to be the Vini who has brought so much joy to madridismo.”
Possible whistles for Mbappé
“If that happens, it will be a victory for you, not pointing fingers at anyone in particular. In fact, in recent weeks, I thought you had enough real cases in the football world... but apparently, that wasn’t enough. Neither big cases like City’s, the difficult situation in my country with Cristiano and his coach... So many cases that could fuel your work, but it wasn’t enough. Madrid is Madrid, and there always has to be something. I was expecting the first question to be the only one about the match. A difficult match that has to be won. It seems ridiculous to me.”
"This is one of your objectives. It doesn’t take Einstein to understand that this is the objective. Regarding the Bernabéu, I won’t comment, I respect it. My hope is that the Bernabéu will be capable of being fair. For me, being fair is being intelligent. Being able to read between the lines and understand the dynamics and objectives. I promise the Bernabéu that if a Madrid player does not behave as a Real Madrid player should, fails, or does not fulfill their obligations as a player or as a citizen, you will not see that player on the bench. You won’t have the chance to boo them because they will be at home. This means that Mbappé will play. He won’t even be on the bench. If he plays, it’s because I am sure he has not failed in his obligations to Real Madrid."
Disclaimer: Translation generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies.