Mourinho Assures That Real Madrid Is Progressing Step by Step In the Preseason

The Portuguese coach highlighted the evolution of his team after the victory against Deportivo de La Coruña and the conquest of the Teresa Herrera Trophy.

A victory with Mourinho's stamp

Real Madrid won the Teresa Herrera Trophy after defeating Deportivo de La Coruña 1-0 at the Abanca-Riazor Stadium, with a goal from Brahim Díaz that sealed the tenth conquest of this tournament for the whites. Vinicius Junior was the captain, and figures like Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries, and Endrick were starters. The team showed defensive solidity, conceding just 0.34 expected goals and not allowing clear chances. With this result, Madrid has three wins and one draw in four friendlies under José Mourinho's management.

The team is making progress

The Portuguese coach was satisfied with the performance and preparation of his players: "The team is progressing in all aspects, but obviously the difficulty of the games, as we have planned with this goal in mind, is increasing. It was great to come here, with this atmosphere. We know that these summer tournaments are worth what they are worth. The home team, by tradition and culture, wants their trophy. Competing like this is great training for us."

Mourinho highlighted the seriousness of the match: "It was a serious game against a team that is returning to La Liga. This trophy has a great tradition for them, and they gave it their all. They forced us to play seriously; it was a tough game. There are five players working in Valdebebas who weren't here, and you already know who they are. We're taking it step by step, and next week we'll be serious."

What's next for Madrid

The next match will be against Schalke, the last friendly before the start of the 2026-27 LaLiga season, which begins on August 22 against Espanyol in Barcelona. Four days later, Mourinho will experience his first game at the Santiago Bernabéu after his return, against Real Sociedad. With a squad that combines established stars and promising young players, and with the influence of a coach who demands discipline and competitiveness, Real Madrid seems on track to arrive with confidence for the official start. Mourinho insists that the progress is real and can be seen game by game.