Mourinho on Barcelona this season: Real Madrid is not comparable to anyone
José Mourinho, Real Madrid’s manager, rejected any comparison between his club and Barcelona, responding to a question about his concerns regarding the level of performance displayed by the Catalan side. Mourinho stated, “Historically and culturally, Real Madrid cannot compare itself to any other club, and for that reason, I will not compare myself to any team.”
Mourinho described Atlético Madrid’s manager, Diego Simeone, as a “comrade in arms” ahead of the upcoming Madrid derby between the two sides at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium in the Spanish La Liga. The Portuguese coach said the derby “always carries a deeper meaning,” adding, “It is a story, a history, a culture, and the passion of the fans, players, and coaches, and the passion of those who quickly understand its significance. But in the end, it is a match worth three points.”
Regarding Real Madrid’s record at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, where the team has won only two of its last 11 matches, Mourinho said, “I do not know if I will be able to make the team deliver its best, but that is my intention and that of my players. I do not know if I will succeed.”
He added, “We have played many consecutive matches, but we have been able to correct some things. It is a gradual process. If there are clubs that train for three, four, or five consecutive days, and everyone is always talking about development, imagine our situation: we have played seven or eight official matches in just a few months.”
He continued, “We need to improve, but we also need to get results, and we are working toward that. We have great confidence, but we also realize that we must work hard.”
Mourinho also clarified what he meant during his last press conference following the match against Celta, when he questioned why he had not been asked about penalty kicks, indicating that he had expected a question about Celta finishing the match with 11 players. He said, “There was a clear and obvious question: What is my opinion on Celta finishing the match with 11 players?”
