Mourinho insists Real Madrid have nothing to prove in Champions League return

Jose Mourinho says his second spell as Real Madrid manager must be judged on its own merits as his side begin their Champions League campaign against Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.

The Portuguese coach previously led Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning major domestic honours but falling short in Europe. The Champions League was the only major trophy he did not secure during that first spell, although Mourinho rejected the idea that he now feels under additional pressure to deliver the competition.

“No, it is two different spells,” Mourinho said when asked whether he felt he owed Real Madrid success in Europe.

“When I left in 2013, we won what we won and lost what we lost, and we gave it our all. And that was that. What I need to do now has nothing to do with the past.

“Back in 2010, we weren’t even reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and it had been ages since we’d played in a semi-final. Now we’ve won six Champions Leagues in a little over a decade.”

Real Madrid enter the match seeking a reaction after suffering the first defeat of Mourinho’s second tenure on Friday. Real Betis won 1-0 in La Liga, leaving the manager demanding an immediate response against the Serie A champions.

Mourinho stressed that the club’s expectations had not changed, with success required in every competition.

“We want to win every match, every competition,” he said. “But you have to work to accomplish stability. Stability. Stability… Structure…

“So Real Madrid need to reach that stability that is so important to achieve something great. But Real Madrid are Real Madrid; you need to win here no matter what.”

The match will provide an early test of whether Mourinho can establish the consistency he believes is necessary for Real Madrid to challenge for major honours. His team are aiming to begin their European campaign positively against Inter Milan, while also recovering from their disappointing domestic result.

Kylian Mbappe was also asked about the atmosphere within the Real Madrid dressing room and his relationship with Vinicius Junior.

The France forward dismissed suggestions that the mood or internal dynamics had changed significantly since last season. He acknowledged that Real Madrid have a new manager, but said the group itself remained the same.

“What does an improvement in the dressing room mean?” Mbappe said.

“Do you have the feeling that something wasn’t right last year? No, it’s the same as last year. It’s true we have a different coach, but it’s the same.”

Real Madrid are the 15-time European champions and are seeking to win the Champions League for the first time since 2024. Their opening fixture against Inter Milan will be Mourinho’s first opportunity in this spell to begin addressing the club’s ambitions in Europe, although he maintains that the achievements and disappointments of his previous period in charge have no bearing on the present campaign.