Jose Mourinho has spoken for the first time since being appointed as the new head coach of Real Madrid, revealing that his deep love for the club was the driving force behind his decision to return for a second stint—one he predicts will be far calmer than his turbulent first tenure between 2010 and 2013.
Real Madrid is scheduled to officially present Mourinho to the media in a press conference on July 13. However, the “Special One” seemingly wanted to deliver an early, concise message regarding how things will operate under his management this time around.
When asked about his motivation for taking over the Real Madrid job again, Mourinho was direct: “I don’t deny I love Real Madrid, and this is the reason I’m going back.”
He also made it clear that this version of himself is fundamentally different from the one fans witnessed during his first spell. “It’s time to be very calm, to analyze, to communicate, to ask questions, to answer questions, and to open a very fluent and honest dialogue,” Mourinho explained.
Defending His Legacy Against “Defensive” Labels
Mourinho didn’t miss the opportunity to push back against long-standing criticisms that labeled his former Real Madrid side as overly defensive.
“The team that scored the most goals in the history of Spanish football was my Real Madrid,” he pointed out sharply. “How defensive was that team?”
Scouting the Squad and Working with Kylian Mbappé
When questioned about the current Real Madrid squad, he urged patience. “I have to see things with my own eyes, because what I know at this moment is what I read in the media or what I watch on TV. I need to know the players closely.”
He concluded by sharing his thoughts on French superstar Kylian Mbappé: “He’s a phenomenal player, and I’m going to try to help him to be even better than this.”
