Mourinho makes Valdebebas exception for Real Madrid’s pre-Malaga preparations

Jose Mourinho turned Real Madrid’s pre-match routine into a light-hearted moment by revealing that he would sleep at Valdebebas with Cucurella and Espe, while the rest of the squad could return to their homes before facing Malaga.

The Portuguese manager made the remark during a press conference at Valdebebas, where he discussed the team’s preparations for the following day’s meeting with Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Mourinho said he did not believe concentration depended simply on whether the players stayed together in a hotel or at the training ground. In his view, the most important factor was the mental focus shown during training.

“There are two types of concentration: concentration while being together and sleeping in the hotel or at Valdebebas, and mental concentration. This type is what really matters, and it has nothing to do with sleeping in the hotel or at Valdebebas,” Mourinho said.

The manager explained that he paid close attention to the quality of the work carried out in training. Sessions which might appear to viewers to consist only of warm-ups and passing exercises could, he said, involve a substantial level of effort and concentration during their other stages.

His comments came as Real Madrid managed the demands of a tight schedule before the Malaga match. The team had been given three days to recover between the two games, but their return journey to Madrid did not finish until between 02:00 and 03:00.

That combination of recovery time and late travel led Mourinho to adopt a flexible approach to the question of where his players would spend the night before the match. Rather than presenting a full team stay as essential, he outlined a less formal arrangement.

“We have a tactical meeting now, we will eat together, spend some time together, and then meet again tomorrow morning,” Mourinho said.

He then added with a smile: “I, Cucurella and Espe will sleep here at Valdebebas, while the rest will sleep at home.”

The comment brought a humorous end to a discussion that had initially focused on the importance of concentration and preparation. Mourinho’s explanation made clear that the group would still meet for tactical work and a shared meal, before reconvening on the morning of the match.

The unusual plan therefore became less a strict overnight order than a playful illustration of the manager’s wider point: for Mourinho, the decisive form of preparation was the players’ mental focus, rather than the location in which they slept. Real Madrid were due to face Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu the following day, with the team’s pre-match arrangements providing an informal talking point ahead of the game.