Jose Mourinho says Real Madrid’s demanding schedule is taking a heavy physical toll on his players after their 3-0 victory over Valencia in La Liga.
The result came in the 12th round of the Spanish top flight and moved Mourinho to the top of the list of coaches with the most wins in La Liga among those to have managed at least 100 matches.
Asked about the achievement, Mourinho said: “My records? They tell me we have to win the next match. In this life, the beautiful numbers are forgotten, and we do not live off figures from the past, but the present.
“I did not know about this record, but it is a source of pride for me. La Liga has had some outstanding coaches, so being part of these figures is a great honour.”
Mourinho also praised his side’s response to the match’s flashpoints, including the sending-off and a yellow card shown to Kylian Mbappe.
“We stayed calm and did not get drawn into responding to the provocations,” he said. “The red card looked very clear to me, while with Mbappe’s yellow card, I thought play could have been allowed to continue. I believe the referee did a really excellent job.”
Mourinho concerned about international break
The Real Madrid manager said the accumulation of fixtures could create problems during the international break.
“I do not know whether I will ever become a national-team coach, but if that happens, I will be very difficult with the clubs and I will think about my own interests, which is why I do not have the courage to call anyone now,” he said.
“National-team coaches certainly do not want any player to be injured because of the number of matches and fatigue. I hope we are lucky.”
Mourinho said Real Madrid had continued to improve without allowing either defeats or victories to disrupt their approach.
“That makes me happy because we have never been in a state of chaos,” he said. “We stayed calm, understood the reasons for our defeats and continued working in a quiet way.
“I will fight to ensure everyone maintains balance during the good periods. Winning matches with a club the size of Real Madrid should not become a state of madness or excessive celebration. It should be normal.”
Mourinho jokes about illness
The Portuguese coach also made light of his condition after the match.
“I am completely exhausted,” he said. “I feel tired and I have a fever. If I recover, I will go to the American Football League.”
Mourinho also revealed what he told his friend Aguirre after the final whistle.
“I went straight out to speak to my friend Aguirre,” he said. “I told him not to be sad because my players are much better than his players. Aguirre is not the problem. When you have players like the ones I have, your chances of winning are greater.”
The listed fixtures include Tavernes de la Valldigna in the King’s Cup on 10 November 2026, followed by Valencia against Real Madrid in La Liga on 21 November 2026, with Celta Vigo also listed.
