Mourinho rejects Barcelona comparisons before Real Madrid’s El Clasico

Jose Mourinho says it is unfair to compare his developing Real Madrid side with Hansi Flick’s established Barcelona before Sunday’s La Liga El Clasico.

Barcelona have won the past two La Liga titles and were unbeaten in the league before Tuesday’s 4-2 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain. Real Madrid, meanwhile, had gone two seasons without a major trophy before Mourinho took charge this summer.

The gap between the teams has narrowed slightly in recent weeks. Madrid have won their past four matches, while Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the season in Paris. Real Madrid are third in La Liga, six points behind Barcelona, before the meeting at Camp Nou.

“I think the people who thought a week ago Barca would thrash us will keep thinking the same thing,” Mourinho said on Saturday. “I don’t think just for the Paris game, or Madrid’s (4-1 win against) Leipzig, they will change their way of thinking.”

Mourinho stressed that he has been in charge for only a few months, while Flick has led Barcelona since arriving in 2024.

“People look at us like a finished product, but finished products in football are difficult because they are never finished … but they look at us like we’re in an advanced phase of the process,” Mourinho said.

“We’ve been working for three months. Out of that you can take pre-season, when the players were arriving (back from the World Cup), and the recent international break, then we’ve been together a month-and-a-half, two months…

“This is the start of a product; we’re in an initial phase where the coach is learning, analysing, bit by bit defining paths, and the players are learning about the coach … comparing a team in this state (to more established sides), I think is unfair.”

Mourinho added that recent form would have little bearing on the fixture.

“We’ve been in a good dynamic, winning games, playing well, scoring goals, but in the Clasico it doesn’t matter what you did before; it has no influence,” he said.

“The Clasico is unique; normally the football world stops to watch it. Hopefully, it’s a great game. And we win.”

The Real Madrid manager also said he would not alter his tactical approach specifically to contain Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, who is in outstanding form and hopes to win the Ballon d’Or award on Monday.

“He’s a great player and great players you respect,” Mourinho said. “One thing is respecting; another thing is to change plans, structures, forgetting your own essence. That we will not do, neither for him nor any other player of great quality we face.”

Barcelona confirmed Jules Kounde remains injured and will miss the match, alongside Dani Olmo, Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen.

Flick expects Real Madrid to arrive with “a lot of confidence” and praised Mourinho’s record.

“I have the highest respect. When you’re managing teams on this level for so many years and you always have success, it’s about quality; he showed this at every club,” Flick said.

He added that Germany players who had worked under Mourinho spoke of him with “great respect”.

Barcelona’s defeat by PSG, Flick said, had shown the team areas requiring improvement.

“We have to grow as a team. (Sunday) we play against one of the best teams in the world, so it’s a good opportunity to grow. To challenge ourselves, to improve ourselves, and to grow as a team.”