Mourinho Warns Real Madrid: “The Real Work Starts Next Week”

After beating Deportivo 1-0 and lifting the Teresa Herrera Trophy, the Portuguese coach made it clear that preseason is over and the real challenge is about to begin.

José Mourinho has warned the Real Madrid squad that their preparation period is coming to an end, insisting that “the real work starts next week” with the beginning of LaLiga getting closer.

Real Madrid continued their preseason with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruña at Riazor, allowing them to claim the Teresa Herrera Trophy for the 10th time in the club’s history. It was also their first appearance in the traditional tournament since 2013.

Brahim Díaz made the difference, taking advantage of a quick attacking move to score just before halftime and give Madrid another positive result during their preseason schedule.

Speaking to Real Madrid TV, Mourinho praised his players for taking the match seriously, particularly because of the tournament’s history and Deportivo’s return to LaLiga.

A tactical test

Although the scoreline was narrow, Mourinho found plenty of value in the match. The game provided an opportunity to analyze how his team could respond to the physical and defensive challenges they are likely to encounter throughout the domestic campaign.

The Portuguese coach was also pleased that his players managed to secure the victory without unnecessary physical exertion.

“We will have many games like this in LaLiga, and we won it without giving everything physically,” Mourinho explained.

However, the manager knows that preseason results will soon become secondary.

“You already know the five who are at Valdebebas. Next week, the real work starts,” Mourinho said.

Managing playing time

Another key aspect of Mourinho’s preseason has been managing the players’ physical workload. Against Deportivo, he made several changes at halftime to avoid overworking his most important players.

Federico Valverde and Arda Güler, among others, played only 45 minutes.

“I have to make changes; I don't want to give the same players too many minutes,” Mourinho explained.

For Mourinho, these matches are primarily about working, testing different systems and evaluating combinations, rather than pushing every player to their physical limits.