Mourinho’s Santander return reveals a changing Racing landscape – but Barcelona’s flag remains

Jose Mourinho returns to Santander to face Racing after 15 years, finding a club transformed by major sporting, administrative and supporter changes since his previous visit.

Some details will be familiar. The Portuguese manager is expected to find the Hotel Real much as he remembers it, the same accommodation used by Real Madrid during his first spell in charge and formerly reserved for Racing Santander. From its balcony, he will again have a view of the bay.

Inside El Sardinero, however, most of the people and surroundings he knew have disappeared. Although the stadium itself has changed little since Mourinho’s last visit in 2011, almost everything happening within it is now different.

The colourful sign overlooking the pitch is no longer surrounded by torn flags, while the atmosphere in the stands and Racing’s ambitions have also evolved.

Mourinho faced Racing four times during his first spell at Real Madrid, according to Spanish newspaper AS. Racing were relegated to the second tier before the Portuguese manager’s final season at the club. Mourinho’s record against them was three wins and one draw, with that final meeting ending 0-0.

None of the Real Madrid players who featured in those matches remains in the team’s dressing room. Sami Khedira, who was part of the squad at the time, is now a member of Mourinho’s coaching staff.

Khedira missed Real Madrid’s most recent visit to El Sardinero after being sent off in the preceding match against Levante. The incident contributed to his side’s defeat and led to a public reprimand from Mourinho.

“He fell into the trap and bears part of the responsibility for the defeat,” Mourinho said at the time.

That period was marked by confrontations involving the manager and a series of controversial comments. On one occasion, he said: “When Spain gets into a fight, people talk about unity, but when we do it, they describe us as bandits.”

Mourinho now returns after an important victory at Camp Nou, as he attempts to change Real Madrid’s situation and guide the club back to winning major honours.

Yet one tradition at El Sardinero has survived the past 15 years. Racing still displays the flags of all 20 La Liga clubs above the east stand, arranged according to their positions in the league table.

In 2011, Barcelona’s flag stood at the front of the line. It remains there today after Barcelona moved on to 30 points by beating Alaves 6-1 yesterday.