Why Did Mourinho Appear With a Black Eye?
José Mourinho attracted attention even before the friendly between Schalke 04 and Real Madrid kicked off. When the Portuguese coach appeared at the Veltins-Arena, there was one detail that was impossible to ignore: he had a very noticeable bruise around his right eye.
The image quickly raised questions, but there is no strange story behind the injury. It was simply the result of an accident during one of Real Madrid’s final training sessions before traveling to Germany.
A Ball to the Face During Training
Mourinho was watching a training session when a ball flew in his direction and struck him directly in the face.
The problem was that the Portuguese coach was wearing his glasses at the time. The impact of the ball against them caused the injury and bruising that could later be seen during the match against Schalke 04.
Despite how noticeable the mark looked, the incident was not serious and Mourinho was able to continue normally. He was on the touchline Sunday coaching Madrid without any major problems.
The explanation, then, is much simpler than the image might have suggested: a training-ground accident that will probably leave Mourinho with a visible bruise for a few more days.
Mourinho Satisfied Before the Real Competition Begins
The knock did not change the coach’s mood after the match either.
Black eye aside, Mourinho was pleased with what he saw in Germany. The game represented Los Blancos’ final preseason test before competitive action begins and also provided an opportunity for several important players to get their first minutes.
Ibrahima Konaté, Yan Diomandé and Marc Cucurella made their first appearances in a Real Madrid shirt, while players such as Thibaut Courtois, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé also began getting minutes under their belts in this new chapter.
After the match, Mourinho explained that the team is gradually understanding his tactical ideas and highlighted the tremendous quality within the squad. He was also pleased with Madrid’s work both with and without the ball.
For the Portuguese coach, the friendly was an important final test, but now comes what he has really been waiting for.
Preseason is practically over, and the battle for points is about to begin.
So, the sight of José Mourinho with a black eye may continue to attract attention for a few more days.
It was simply one of those accidents that can also happen on the training ground.
