November 8
Why is the Portuguese coach heading to America?
Following a 3-0 victory over Valencia in the 12th round of La Liga, Real Madrid manager José Mourinho stated that his players are suffering from severe physical fatigue due to a relentless schedule of matches.
Mourinho has now reached the top spot for the highest win rate among managers in La Liga history—specifically among those who have overseen at least 100 matches.
In the post-match press conference, Mourinho remarked: "My records? People tell me we need to win the next game. In this life, impressive statistics are soon forgotten; we don’t live off the numbers of the past—we live in the present. I wasn't aware of this particular record, but it is a source of pride for me. La Liga has seen many world-class coaches, so to be part of these statistics is a great honor."
He added: "We remained calm and didn't fall for any provocations. The red card seemed very clear to me, though regarding the yellow card shown to Mbappé, I felt the referee could have allowed play to continue. I think the referee did an excellent job."
Concerns regarding the international break
Mourinho continued: "I don’t know if I’ll ever become a national team coach, but if I were, I’d likely be quite a nuisance to the clubs—I’d be looking out for my own interests. That’s precisely why I wouldn’t dare to call anyone right now." He continued: "National team coaches certainly don’t want any of their players getting injured due to a congested fixture list and fatigue. I hope luck is on our side."
Real Madrid continues to evolve
Mourinho added: "I’m pleased, because we never fell into a state of chaos. We remained calm, understood the reasons behind our defeats, and kept working quietly."
He went on: "I will fight to ensure that everyone maintains a sense of balance, even during good spells. Winning matches with a club the size of Real Madrid shouldn’t lead to a state of frenzy or excessive celebration; it should be considered the norm."
Mourinho suffering from a fever
The Portuguese coach joked: "I’m completely drained. I’m feeling tired and have a fever. If I recover, maybe I’ll head off to the NFL."
Mourinho also revealed a conversation he had with his friend Aguirre after the match, saying: "I went straight over to speak with my friend Aguirre. I told him not to be sad, because my players are simply much better than his. Aguirre isn’t the problem; when you have the kind of players I have, your chances of winning are much higher."
