Jose Mourinho says he is concerned about the upcoming international break because Real Madrid’s players will leave for national-team duty when many of them need time to recover from fatigue.
Real Madrid head into the break in high spirits after securing eight consecutive victories, but their coaching staff fear the additional demands placed on the squad could lead to further exhaustion or injuries.
Mourinho made his concerns clear after Real Madrid’s win against Valencia at Mestalla.
“I am telling you now that I am worried about the international break,” he said. “If the players stay with me and my staff, we will be able to give them excellent care during their recovery period, but they will be with their national teams.”
The Portuguese manager also appealed to the coaches responsible for the national sides to take the physical condition of Real Madrid’s players into consideration and avoid placing unnecessary demands on them.
“I have never coached a national team, but I understand their coaches’ desire to work,” Mourinho said. “These players cannot work now; they need to rest so that they can play for their national teams later.”
Real Madrid’s next La Liga fixture is against Celta Vigo on 21 November 2026.
Mourinho said he understood that international managers would naturally prioritise the interests of their own teams. He added that he did not intend to contact any of them, including his friend Carlo Ancelotti, who is the manager of Brazil.
The Real Madrid manager also referred to the club’s players involved with Brazil, including Vinicius Junior and Endrick. His main concern, he said, was not how Ancelotti would manage them, but whether they could suffer fatigue-related injuries.
Mourinho stressed that national teams had a professional responsibility to manage the players’ recovery programmes carefully while they were away from their clubs.
“I don’t want to call anyone, not even my friend Carlo,” he said.
The manager concluded his comments on the players’ departure by expressing hope that Real Madrid would come through the international break without losing anyone to injury.
“Let’s hope luck is on our side,” Mourinho said.
