José Mourinho: “We’re not at 100% at Real Madrid, but we’re growing”
These were the Real Madrid manager’s words following the team's emphatic victory over Racing Santander in LaLiga.
Real Madrid are enjoying a strong run of form, and José Mourinho believes his team is beginning to embrace his ideas, although they are still far from reaching their full potential. Following a 3-0 victory over Racing Santander, the Portuguese manager highlighted the team's collective progress, his players' confidence, and their defensive commitment, while also addressing the controversial refereeing decisions during the match.
MOURINHO HIGHLIGHTS REAL MADRID'S PROGRESS
The Real Madrid manager acknowledged that the adaptation process is still ongoing, as he has been working with the squad for less than four months. However, he stressed that there is now a better connection between his tactical ideas and his players' strengths.
“We’re not at 100% yet, but we’re making progress. Less than four months is not much time, but we’re moving forward step by step. I’ve come to understand things that I didn’t understand on the first day. The players have a better understanding of my character as a coach, because my personality as a person is secondary. They understand the things that are non-negotiable for me. There is good personal chemistry, so to speak. There is a good relationship between the players and the coach. We’re in a good place. But let’s see how this week goes, because two difficult matches are coming up, and both are important,” Mourinho explained.
The Portuguese manager also acknowledged that he has gained a better understanding of his squad, while his players are increasingly familiar with his expectations and demands as a coach.
Mourinho particularly praised the team's improvement in defensive commitment. He pointed to the efforts of Jude Bellingham and Diomande, as well as the contribution of attacking players to the team's pressing and defensive work.
“When more attacking players are willing to make sacrifices, it sends a positive message to the team,” he said.
Mourinho also believes Real Madrid must become more clinical in front of goal. Although he praised the team's overall performance, he insisted that they created enough chances to secure an even bigger winning margin against Racing Santander.
THE REFEREEING CONTROVERSY AND FIXTURE SCHEDULING
Another topic Mourinho addressed was the controversy surrounding the penalty decisions. The Portuguese manager questioned the spot kick awarded for a handball by Aurélien Tchouaméni, arguing that the ball had struck the midfielder's arm after rebounding off his body.
“Many people don't know the rules,” Mourinho commented, explaining that he reviewed the incident on a tablet after the match. He also praised the referee's disciplinary management, although he maintained that the incident should not have resulted in a penalty.
Finally, Mourinho defended his decision not to use all his available substitutions. He explained that some of his starting players are unlikely to feature on Wednesday, so he preferred to keep them on the pitch and give them more playing time.
The manager also criticized LaLiga's fixture scheduling, arguing that the team is being forced to play matches too close together, particularly while competing in European competitions.
For Mourinho, Real Madrid's progress is clear, but the upcoming fixtures will provide an important test of how far the team has come.
“My opinion is that... (laughs) They complain about everything. It's a stadium I really like, and a fan base I really like. They have this character, this way of approaching the game. They don't just come to watch a movie. They don't just come to watch a show. They come to play their part, get involved, and create a very difficult atmosphere for the opposition. But there's also the fact that people obviously play with their hearts, and many don't know the rules. And to be honest, the rules change so often, even the little details...
“People don't understand that Tchouaméni's handball is never a penalty because the ball rebounded off his... body. It's never a penalty. When the referee awarded it, I stayed calm because I was 60 meters away and couldn't see the incident. But then I watched it on my iPad and said: 'If VAR is awake, that's not a penalty.' The referee was technically very good and handled the game well from a disciplinary standpoint. A couple of yellow cards were enough in a tough, competitive match. For me, it was obvious that it wasn't a penalty.”
LAS CLAVES DE MOURINHO SOBRE EL REAL MADRID
- EL EQUIPO SIGUE CRECIENDO: Mourinho reconoció que el Real Madrid todavía no está al 100%, pero destacó su evolución y adaptación a sus ideas.
- MEJORA EL COMPROMISO DEFENSIVO: Elogió el sacrificio de Bellingham y Diomande, así como la colaboración de los atacantes en la recuperación.
- CRITICA LA POLÉMICA ARBITRAL: Cuestionó el penalti señalado por una mano de Tchouaméni y aseguró que hay quienes desconocen las reglas.
