Mourinho Returns to the Bernabéu: New Beginnings for Real Madrid

Real Madrid are about to walk out at the Santiago Bernabéu for the first time this season, and almost everything feels different. New ideas, new dynamics, a reshaped dressing room – and José Mourinho back on the home bench for a rescheduled Matchday 1 clash with Real Sociedad.

The scare against Espanyol in their league opener has already served as a jolt. Now comes the real unveiling: Madrid at home, under Mourinho, with a squad that looks built to dominate.

“We start from scratch”

Facing the media before the game, Mourinho cut a familiar figure: controlled, sharp, and very clear about where his Madrid are.

“We start from scratch, although it is not from scratch, people already have feelings. There is a willingness to do things right and to support the team.”

The message was simple – new cycle, same demands. And that extends to how he handles a squad loaded with players who went deep into the World Cup.

“You have to do this management well between playing nothing and playing a lot, for example Cucurella. I gave him 30 minutes,” he explained. “My vision is mixed with data and with what the players tell me, the knowledge that each one has of himself.”

Mourinho steps into the Vinicius storm

The conversation inevitably turned to Vinicius Jr., a player at the centre of constant abuse from the stands and relentless punishment on the pitch. Mourinho did not dodge the subject.

“The reaction of the normal public can be controlled. Vinicius' relationship with the rival stand can improve. But the kicks, insults, and aggressions are due to the referee.

“Justice must be given. It is the referee who has to protect the players and the game. You can work on your relationship with your adversaries.”

He then went straight to the heart of the issue: the way Vinicius is refereed.

“Last season I saw every match of Madrid and Barcelona. But what I have seen now, in preseason, it is obvious that there is a difference between Vinicius and other players.

“A dynamic has been entered, the opponents know they can. If they foul Vini, the yellow card arrives after making 10 fouls. It's a treatment I don't like.”

From an opponent’s coach at Benfica to his protector in Madrid, Mourinho admitted his own shift in perspective.

“When I was Benfica coach, I was only interested in Benfica. Vini may have more control, but if it's a kick and aggression, it's expulsion.”

Even so, he chose to publicly back the officials.

“After seeing the last game, I really liked the refereeing. I trust the Spanish refereeing. I always trust the referee. After the game sometimes there are things I don't like.

“Yes Negreira, yes friends, I'm not there. I'm totally with the referees,” he added with a pointed aside.

A calmer Mourinho, same ruthless edge

Mourinho also opened a window into his own evolution. The touchline fire is still there, but he insists it now burns differently.

“I have been feeling calmer for years, with more control of my emotions. But it's not something new. Now I face difficult situations or frustrations, because we have not yet lost.”

There was a line that summed up his demands inside Valdebebas.

“I don't like laziness, I like people who work for Real Madrid. So far I haven't seen laziness, everyone gives everything. And everyone protects me from my dark side. I feel good like this.”

On the pitch, he has what every manager wants: weapons everywhere. Asked about managing what many already call the best attacking trident in world football, he did not hide his delight.

“The most complicated thing is when you don't have top-level players. That has happened to me in other teams. Not here. I want all three of them (Mbappé, Bellingham, Vinicius) and I am here to make decisions.”

Back to the Bernabéu

The return to the Bernabéu could have been framed as Mourinho’s personal homecoming. He refused that narrative.

“I don't want the Bernabeu to receive me in a particular way, I want it to receive the team as its team, with its passion.”

On the transfer market, his stance was firm from a sporting point of view, but realistic about club dynamics.

“It's still open, you never know what you can go through. At the moment everything is closed, but the president or José Ángel can call me to tell me that there is an offer for one. For me, the market is closed. I would like to stay with this squad this season.”

Valverde, Tchouameni, Mbappé and Endrick: inside the squad

The second half of the press conference drilled down into individual roles and fitness.

On Federico Valverde, Mourinho was clear: no more experiments at right-back.

“I don't like it when they make him play on the right back. It has happened to him in the past. For me, he is a midfield player. He can be more positional, or more mobile.”

He then widened the lens to modern tactical flexibility.

“Teams must have solutions. A full-back is a full-back, but today he can be a winger. Or like Trent, who can play inside.”

On the possibility of Carlos Espi and Kylian Mbappé playing together, Mourinho opened the door.

“We can see them together, or with Endrick. Carlos has a different profile, it was perfect for how the game against Espanyol was. I thought Carlos could be important at that time to suffocate the rival.”

Aurelien Tchouameni’s condition remains a concern, but Mourinho framed his delayed start as a calculated choice after the player emptied himself at the World Cup.

“He has suffered a lot in the World Cup. He risked everything. He played in the semifinals with everything.

“He has a setback, the player is ready to play and could have continued, but we believe he should start the season at 100%. We have decided with him and the staff to wait, so that he returns a week or two later, but 100%.”

Endrick, currently out with a minor issue, drew clear admiration.

“There is a specific problem next to the tendon, but it is more of a precaution. He's a player I like so much.

“He has had so many, so many offers from clubs. I didn't want to give in. I'm sure he's going to get to Carlo Ancelotti's first call. He will call me directly.”

Now comes the real test. A full Bernabéu, a reshaped Madrid, and Mourinho back in his natural habitat. The ideas are on the table. The squad is set, at least in his mind. The question is no longer what he wants this team to be – it’s how quickly they can become it.