Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has described his squad as a team still under development ahead of Sunday’s El Clásico against Barcelona, noting that his players are yet to fully adapt to his coaching philosophy.
Despite the ongoing transition, the Portuguese manager expressed confidence in his side, rejecting the suggestion that the clash would determine their chances of winning major honours.
“No. Madrid with Mourinho wins titles,” he said when asked if the fixture would test his ability to deliver trophies, according to Real Madrid’s official website on Saturday.
Speaking at the Ciudad Real Madrid training complex ahead of the La Liga Matchday 10 encounter at Camp Nou, Mourinho argued that his team’s progress should not be compared with sides that have worked together for several seasons.
“We’ve been working for three months. If you take away the preseason, where players were arriving every week, and the nearly three weeks they spent with their national teams, we’ve been working for a month and a half or two months,” Mourinho said.
“Far from being a finished product, we are a product in progress. We’re in a phase where the coach is getting to know, analyzing, and defining paths. The players are also getting to know their coach, his way of acting and leading.
“Comparing a team in this state with a team that has been together for two or three years doesn’t seem fair to me. Then, when we play less well or when the result is negative, criticism is part of it.”
Mourinho added that recent form would count for little in the high-stakes rivalry, despite Madrid’s winning streak and Barcelona’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
“We are in a good dynamic. We win matches, play well, score goals… But in Clasicos, it has no influence; they are different matches. In my experience with Clasicos and derbies, what happens before doesn’t have much significance,” he said.
He also dismissed the possibility that Barcelona’s recent loss would undermine their confidence ahead of the encounter.
“I said before that the moment tells me nothing or very little in these matches. If instead of winning 4-1 against Leipzig, we had lost 4-1, my mindset going into this match wouldn’t be different.
“I don’t think Barcelona, because they lost one match, will change their mindset and confidence going into this match.”
Addressing the contrasting reactions towards both clubs, Mourinho maintained that external opinions about Barcelona and criticism of Madrid would not influence his preparations.
“People who, a week ago, thought Barça could thrash us probably still think the same. I don’t think the Paris match or the Leipzig match at the Bernabéu will change their idea or way of thinking.”
