Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid side is off to a flying start with a clear message from the Portuguese manager: it is all about commitment and there will be a lot of competition for places and no grudges to be held for when a player is cut from the squad. Mourinho made the threat in his first press conference as Real Madrid on Friday, three days after his official presentation.
Mourinho has been 3 minutes early at Barcelona’s Valdebebas training centre before speaking to the journalists for over 40 minutes before Real Madrid’s LaLiga debut of the season against Espanyol on Saturday. His measured demeanour emphasised his first concern of discipline and standards of players in the squad as he starts his second stint as head coach of the Spanish giants.
Real Madrid go into the new campaign with a chip on their shoulder, having been trophyless in the last two seasons. It’s not just a matter of the club suffering due to the anxiety of recent results as President Florentino Perez is also in hot water for his recent re-election, though Mourinho did not have any such thoughts.
On the contrary, the Portuguese coach stressed on competition in the team and acceptance of his decisions. Mourinho also spoke of the pressure on his side this season and said it’s important to have players keep in mind the team’s goals, and not their own.
Their appointment was a massive reward for Mourinho, who had been in charge of Real Madrid in the three seasons he had previously held the position. His first spell saw him win a LaLiga championship, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup and he built a very competitive side in an era of Barcelona domination.
Mourinho has had his work cut out for him, as he now needs to get Real Madrid’s rhythm back since their last major trophy victory two years ago. His initial remarks indicate that discipline, intensity and competition within himself would be the basis of the approach.
