​Portuguese coach José Mourinho has officially taken the helm at Ciudad Deportiva de Valdebebas, marking the start of a new chapter for Real Madrid as he steps onto the club’s world-renowned training ground. On his first day back at the club, the veteran manager laid out his initial reflections and made it clear that his return to Los Blancos is underpinned by a rigorous, disciplined approach and a deep commitment to the institution. He stressed that his project does not begin from zero; rather, it has been meticulously planned from a distance and modern tools now enable progress even without constant physical presence. “Words are not enough. We are on a mission. We have been working hard for a long time with the club’s structure at different levels. Today, technology helps a lot and allows progress without being physically present. My arrival has basically been to verify everything that has been done and what we still have left to do,” the coach explained.
Mourinho was explicit about the ethos he intends to embed within the squad, clarifying that his principal aim is to elevate the team’s collective performance by fostering responsibility, ambition, and unwavering respect for the Real Madrid badge. He views this badge as a central pillar of his coaching philosophy and a source of motivation that transcends mere allegiance to the club. “I’m here to help everyone become better. I want to create a culture of work, responsibility, and ambition, built on something I know well: the honor of working for Real Madrid. I really like this concept. It’s not working at Real Madrid, it’s working for Real Madrid,” he asserted with conviction.
The start of the preseason has brought a particular set of circumstances, with several first-team players temporarily away on international duty. Rather than viewing this as a setback, Mourinho framed it as a valuable opportunity: a chance to engage more closely with emerging talent from Real Madrid’s youth ranks and to begin assessing and integrating the club’s academy players into the broader philosophy of the first team. He emphasized that this moment could serve as a catalyst for developing the club’s internal pipeline, with many academy graduates likely to remain with Real Madrid Castilla throughout the season while the senior squad awaits the return of players who participated in the World Cup.
The coach’s message at Valdebebas was clear and purposeful. He intends to leverage the current preseason as a foundation to build an enduring culture of excellence, one that prioritizes discipline, accountability, and unity under the Real Madrid banner. The plan is to combine the club’s established traditions with modern tools and methods, ensuring that every member of the squad—whether seasoned veteran or young academy product—grasps their role within a shared mission: to honor and strengthen Real Madrid in every competition they undertake. Mourinho’s arrival signals not only a new managerial direction but also a reinforced commitment to the values that have long defined the club’s success, with a clear focus on long-term development, tactical clarity, and an unyielding pursuit of collective achievement.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in Spanish here for better SEO.