José Mourinho has spoken for the first time since Real Madrid announced last week that he is returning as coach, a decade after his previous spell in the 2012/13 season. In the interview, published on 24 June 2026, he outlined his approach to the job, reflected on Madrid’s history, and discussed working with the club’s stars.
Mourinho said he came back because of his attachment to the club: “I love Real Madrid, that is why I am returning. It is time to stay calm, analyse, communicate and create an honest dialogue with everyone.” He added that Madrid’s greatness comes not only from its players, but from its trophies and history, calling it a club that cannot be compared with any other and saying the white shirt has “always had something magical.”
Responding to criticism that his teams play defensively, he pushed back by pointing to his previous Madrid side. “The team that scored the most goals in the history of Spanish football was my Real Madrid. Was it really that defensive?” he said.
He also recalled El Clasico matches against Barcelona, saying the world stopped for those games and comparing them to major tennis rivalries involving Federer, Djokovic and Nadal. Asked about Kylian Mbappe, Mourinho said he wants to judge him in person, noting that everything he knows now comes from the media. “Of course he is a phenomenal player, and I will try to help him improve even more. I am here for him and for everyone,” he said.
