LaLiga
José Mourinho’s Show After El Clásico: “Real Madrid Don’t Play to Win at Camp Nou, They Play to Win Titles”
The coach secured a victory in his first El Clásico of Spain during his second stint in charge of Real Madrid, beating Barcelona on the Blaugrana’s home turf.… Show More
The coach secured a victory in his first El Clásico of Spain during his second stint in charge of Real Madrid, beating Barcelona on the Blaugrana’s home turf.
José Mourinho dejó claro que vencer al FC Barcelona en el Clásico no es el objetivo final del Real Madrid. Después del triunfo por 1-2 en el Camp Nou, el entrenador portugués lanzó un mensaje contundente a sus jugadores: la victoria tendrá verdadero valor si el equipo mantiene el nivel y pelea hasta el final por conquistar LaLiga.
THE SPECIAL ONE’S STATEMENT
“If we win today and lose at El Sardinero, today’s victory will no longer carry the same weight. Real Madrid don’t play to win at Camp Nou; they play to win the championship. We have to keep going,” the coach said at a press conference.
Real Madrid secured the win with a brace from Kylian Mbappé, ended Barcelona’s unbeaten run, and cut the gap in the standings to three points. However, José Mourinho refused to let the celebrations become an end goal, shifting the focus to the consistency required to compete at the highest level throughout the season.
Mourinho praised Real Madrid’s collective performance, describing the match as a high-level contest against one of the toughest opponents in the competition.
“It was a great game, a high-level match, with two teams playing to win. In our case, we played an extraordinary game,” the Portuguese coach said, highlighting his players’ organization, concentration, and courage in overcoming Barcelona’s pressure.
The manager also explained that his team never lost its composure after Barcelona equalized. “We remained calm and organized, and at 1-1, we never lost our composure,” he stressed.
For Mourinho, the result carried special significance because of its impact on the LaLiga standings. The coach noted that Real Madrid could have emerged from El Clásico three, six, or nine points behind, with each scenario having different implications for the title race.
“Being nine points behind would have been psychologically difficult. At six points, we would have been in a balanced position, but being three points behind is different,” he explained.
He also reiterated that the victory was not down to luck: “You can win through luck by defending deep, but we won entirely on merit.”
MOURINHO QUESTIONS VAR AND BACKS LUNIN
Although José Mourinho praised the referee’s performance, he questioned a decision involving João Cancelo, arguing that the defender should have been sent off for a challenge on Yan Diomandé.
“With a referee who I think had a very good game, there was also a VAR that was asleep in the 60th minute, with a decision that could have influenced the match: a clear red card for João on Diomandé,” the Portuguese coach said.
The manager also praised Andriy Lunin, who started in goal in the absence of Thibaut Courtois. Mourinho explained that he trusted the Ukrainian goalkeeper because his daily work in training prepares him to deliver whenever he gets an opportunity.
“I told him that he trains to play, not to sit on the bench. I told him, ‘Go out there and play.’ He had a great game,” Mourinho revealed.
In addition, the coach highlighted the unity within the Real Madrid dressing room and the squad’s ability to overcome challenges without relying on any single player.
MOURINHO’S VIRAL CELEBRATION AFTER MBAPPÉ’S GOAL
The victory also produced an image that caught the attention of fans: José Mourinho’s passionate celebration on the touchline after Real Madrid’s decisive goal.
The Portuguese coach openly expressed his joy during a high-stakes El Clásico, although his message afterward contrasted with the euphoria of the moment. For Mourinho, the win must serve as motivation for the upcoming fixtures, not as an excuse to lower the team’s intensity.
Eduardo Camavinga earned praise for his involvement in the decisive play and his ability to bring energy to the midfield. Mourinho also defended the depth of his squad, dismissing the idea that Real Madrid has a fixed starting lineup.
“Some managers look at the bench and have no solutions. They are left struggling, but I have a strong bench with plenty of options,” he said.
The Portuguese coach also acknowledged Federico Valverde’s effort despite the midfielder playing with physical limitations. Mourinho praised his players’ work in exploiting the spaces against a Barcelona side that presses with great intensity.
FIVE STRAIGHT WINS, ONE GOAL: WINNING LALIGA
The victory over Barcelona came after a strong run of form for Real Madrid, who extended their winning streak to five consecutive matches. However, José Mourinho insisted that recent results guarantee nothing and that the team must maintain its high standards every matchday.
“It’s a great win, but when we get back to work, I won’t let anyone get carried away,” the coach warned, determined to keep his players focused after defeating their biggest rivals.
Mourinho also described Barcelona as an extremely difficult opponent. “It was the toughest game, against the strongest opponent. This is Barça. We played a great game, and we’ve improved a lot lately,” he said.
Mourinho’s message was summed up in one clear principle: winning at Camp Nou matters, but it is not enough. Real Madrid must maintain its level in LaLiga and deliver in the upcoming matches to turn this victory into a genuine step toward the title.
El Clásico is behind them; winning the championship remains the priority.
THE KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MOURINHO’S MESSAGE AFTER EL CLÁSICO
- 🏆 THE GOAL IS TO WIN TITLES: Mourinho stressed that Real Madrid are not just playing to beat Barcelona at Camp Nou, but to win LaLiga.
- ⚽ A DESERVED VICTORY: The coach praised his team’s composure, organization, and collective effort in the 2-1 win over Barcelona.
- 🔥 NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY: Despite five consecutive wins, Mourinho demanded continued focus and full commitment in the upcoming matches.
Show Less
