Mourinho returns to Real Madrid promising dreams, discipline and a fearless challenge

Jose Mourinho has made his first media appearance as Real Madrid manager, saying he has returned to the club with “everything I have” and insisting he still dreams of success despite refusing to make guarantees.

Speaking to Josep Pedrerol on the El Chiringuito programme, Mourinho discussed his return to one of football’s most demanding jobs, his relationship with the squad, Kylian Mbappe, Rodri’s decision to join Barcelona and the controversy surrounding the Negreira case.

Rather than setting out a list of targets, the Portuguese manager focused on emotion, responsibility and ambition.

“I have come with the love I feel for Real Madrid, with the responsibility that Real Madrid imposes and with the enthusiasm of a child who has won nothing. I have come with everything, with everything I have,” Mourinho said.

“Talking about promises as was done 20 years ago is not my style. If you ask me whether I have dreams, yes, I have dreams.”

Mourinho acknowledged that he has changed since his first spell at Real Madrid, both personally and professionally, but said his essential character remained intact.

“I have changed a lot. I think the DNA is still the same and, certainly, I cannot hide who I am or try to be someone I am not. But I have become more mature, less emotional and more in control of myself,” he said.

The manager attributed that development to years of experience, particularly the lessons learned from mistakes. He added that he did not live with regret, because dwelling on the past did not help a person move forward.

“Learning from experiences, yes. I think that the more experience you have as a coach, and the more situations you go through that are similar to things you have experienced before, the better coach you become,” Mourinho said.

He also explained the bruise on his face, joking that it had not been caused by a fight.

“No, it was not a fight. The bruise on my face was caused by Lacosta, one of the Castilla youth-team players. He hit a powerful shot towards me and I was wearing glasses, so the ball struck my face,” he said.

“But that is not why he was not called up for the last match,” he added with a smile.

Mourinho said he had found a squad eager to win and open to his ideas. He described the dressing room as receptive to what he called “common sense”, adding that the players had so far spared him from having to use the harsher side of his personality.

“I found a dressing room with a great desire to win, with winning being the final result of the work,” he said.

“It is a dressing room that is open to common sense. They have protected me from that version of myself, which is also part of me.”

The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager said his demands were straightforward: players should arrive well before training, follow nutritional advice and use the gym to reduce the risk of injury.

“To ask them to arrive an hour before training and not five minutes before is common sense. This is football today. You have to arrive early, have breakfast under the supervision of a nutritionist and go to the gym every day to prevent injuries. This is for you, and this is for us,” he said.

Praise for Mbappe and questions over Rodri

Mourinho spoke warmly about Mbappe, describing the France forward as an exceptional player who can even make him laugh during training.

“Mbappe is amazing. Sometimes he makes me laugh in training,” he said.

“He is so good. His level is from another planet.”

The manager also pointed to Mbappe’s early arrival as a positive sign ahead of the new campaign.

“A player who could have arrived on 14 August but arrived on 12 August tells me a lot,” Mourinho said.

Mourinho refused to judge what happened at Real Madrid last season, saying it had been strange and difficult for everyone. He said responsibility for the outcome could not be placed on one or two individuals.

“I do not have the right to judge or analyse what he did last season. It was a strange and difficult season for everyone. In the end, the story is always the same: Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso paid the price. Winning or losing has many factors,” he said.

“Many people made mistakes last season,” Mourinho added, identifying commitment as one of the principles he wanted to establish during his new tenure.

Asked about Rodri, who chose to move to Barcelona, Mourinho said he did not feel Real Madrid were missing the midfielder.

“No, I do not miss Rodri. We have solutions and we have quality,” he said.

“I like to believe that I have the ability to develop the players I have.”

Mourinho revealed that he had spoken to Rodri twice and said Real Madrid had made the player a significant offer while maintaining a good relationship with Manchester City.

“I spoke to him twice and Real Madrid made him a very good offer. I think there is a very good relationship with City. The club contacted Rodri without negotiating with City and made him an important offer,” he said.

However, Rodri’s hesitation also created doubts in Mourinho’s mind.

“Rodri had doubts. He hesitated, and Rodri’s doubts made me doubt too,” Mourinho said.

“Real Madrid is a club of a size that does not allow players to think twice about their decision.”

When Pedrerol asked whether Rodri’s choice could be considered a victory for Barcelona, Mourinho replied: “Victories happen on the pitch, and they are trophies. That is where victories happen.”

Vinicius Junior relationship

Mourinho also discussed Vinicius Junior’s contract renewal and rejected the suggestion that he had persuaded the Brazil forward to remain at Real Madrid.

“Did he renew his contract because of me? No. Vinicius is in love with Real Madrid,” Mourinho said.

“I only said to him: ‘Vini, where do you want to go? You have been in Brazil and at Real Madrid, and you know what Real Madrid means when you leave it. It is not worth it.’”

Mourinho said Vinicius had also taken encouragement from the way the team around him had developed, giving him a positive and important feeling about continuing at the club.

The manager returned to a disagreement with the player from several months earlier, when Mourinho defended Benfica’s Argentine player Prestianni after Vinicius was allegedly subjected to racism in the Champions League.

“The answer is simple: Prestianni was my player, and that is the end of it. There is nothing else to discuss. Now Vini knows which side I am on. The other day, when a penalty was not given to him, I was in the middle of the pitch fighting for him,” Mourinho said.

He also criticised the way officials dealt with Vinicius.

“People have to learn how to deal with him, and I am talking about referees here. You cannot give a penalty to one player and not give it to Vinicius, protect one player and not protect Vinicius. They do not respect him,” he said.

At the same time, Mourinho offered Vinicius advice about his conduct during matches.

“As far as the pitches are concerned, there is a difference between celebrating a goal with your team-mates and celebrating in front of the opposing team’s supporters,” he said.

Mourinho said he was enjoying his return to Real Madrid, adding: “I love working at Real Madrid very much. I love working for Real Madrid.”

Asked whether he had sensed concerns over refereeing integrity during his first period at the club, in the context of the Negreira investigation into alleged payments by Barcelona to a former refereeing official, Mourinho replied: “When I was here, I smelled something.”