Mourinho warns Real Madrid face one of La Liga’s toughest tests at Valencia

Jose Mourinho says Real Madrid must overcome fatigue and a fully prepared Valencia side when they meet at Mestalla in La Liga on Saturday, 07 November 2026.

The Portuguese manager’s team returned from an exhausting match against AEK Athens in Greece before travelling to face Valencia, who have had a full week to prepare.

“This is one of the most difficult matches in the whole of La Liga,” Mourinho said at his pre-match news conference.

He also praised Valencia’s manager, saying: “Their coach is extremely difficult to play against. He has great experience, knows exactly what he wants and has a clear philosophy when working with teams, so it will be a very difficult game.

“I am afraid of tomorrow’s match – and I mean afraid in inverted commas.”

Mourinho said his concern was not the upcoming international break, but the demands of facing a rested opponent immediately after a taxing European fixture.

“The national team is not my problem, and it does not worry me at all that a player has the honour of representing his country,” he said.

“My problem is tomorrow’s match, against a team that is ready, has had a whole week to prepare and is led by a coach who is not worried about the way his team will play.”

Real Madrid remain at Valdebebas

Mourinho revealed that Real Madrid had taken measures to give the squad additional recovery time after returning from Greece at 03:00.

“We arrived at three in the morning, but we stayed at Valdebebas and no player went home, so they could get two extra hours of sleep,” he said.

The manager added that the initial indications about the players’ condition were encouraging.

“The signs I have received are positive, and there is no need to portray the situation as a tragedy,” he said.

Asked about the decision to schedule the match on Saturday, Mourinho used the subject of player recovery to make a sarcastic criticism of La Liga.

“Konate and Huijsen will play tomorrow. Thanks to the decision to hold the match on Saturday, the players who join their national teams will be fresh, and I will give them a day to rest,” he said.

Mourinho praises Valverde’s leadership

Real Madrid also returned from Athens with renewed appreciation of Fede Valverde’s ability to contribute in several positions and his development as a leader after being named captain.

“I cannot compare him with last season because I did not know him then,” Mourinho said.

“He is a wonderful professional and a friend to his team-mates. He does not need to be a voice heard every second, but he is always there as an example for everyone. Being officially given the captain’s armband has made him feel responsible, because carrying the Real Madrid captaincy is not easy.”

Mourinho was also asked whether the La Liga round should be cancelled after the tragic death of Jesus de Miguel.

“According to the information I have received, there will be a beautiful tribute, and I think that carries important meaning,” he said.

“If it were possible to speak to Jesus and ask him, that would be the ideal decision. But since that is impossible, only his family and team-mates can say what he would have preferred: whether football matches should not be played, or whether he would want to be remembered through a beautiful and comprehensive tribute from Spanish football as a whole.”

Atletico Madrid face Barcelona in La Liga on 08 November 2026.