Mourinho’s next flashpoint could be El Clasico, says Aboutrika

Mohamed Aboutrika believes Jose Mourinho’s unusually restrained behaviour after Real Madrid’s first La Liga defeat of the season could signal that the manager is waiting for the right moment to react.

Real Madrid had won their opening three league matches before losing 1-0 away to Real Betis on Friday. The setback came just days before they begin their UEFA Champions League league-phase campaign against Inter Milan on Tuesday.

Speaking on beIN Sports, former Egypt international Aboutrika said Mourinho’s current demeanour was out of character and suggested the Portuguese manager could be preparing a response.

“Mourinho’s calm worries me. He is calm during matches and also in his statements, and that is against his nature. I think he is planning something. Is he waiting for a particular moment to explode?” Aboutrika said.

The former Egypt star’s comments focused on Mourinho’s lack of visible anger following the defeat at Real Betis. He said the manager had remained composed both on the touchline and in his public comments, behaviour Aboutrika regarded as unusual for a coach known for strong reactions and outspoken press conferences.

Aboutrika said Real Madrid’s meeting with Inter Milan would provide an early indication of how Mourinho intended to respond to the league setback.

“We will see what happens against Inter Milan. Usually, when big clubs suffer a setback, they focus on the next match,” he added.

The Champions League fixture will therefore offer Real Madrid an immediate opportunity to recover from their first domestic loss of the campaign. Aboutrika suggested that the pressure surrounding Mourinho would become clearer depending on the team’s next results.

He believes the manager will eventually abandon his current calm, although he is uncertain when that change will come. One possible moment, according to Aboutrika, could be before El Clasico against Barcelona. Another could arrive if Real Madrid suffer a second defeat.

“Mourinho will give up his current calm at a certain point,” Aboutrika said, identifying either the build-up to the match against Barcelona or a further loss as potential triggers.

The defeat by Real Betis has already prompted questions around Real Madrid, who had made a perfect start to their La Liga campaign before Friday’s result. Their response against Inter Milan will now be closely watched, with Aboutrika expecting Mourinho’s true reaction to emerge at a significant moment rather than immediately after the setback.

The former Egypt international’s remarks were made during beIN Sports coverage and were also shared in a video post highlighting his view that Mourinho’s silence and composure may indicate a deliberate plan.