Real Madrid rounded off their pre-season in style with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Schalke at the Veltins Arena.
The victory ensured Jose Mourinho’s side ended their preparations unbeaten, and the Portuguese was in a positive mood as he reflected on the outing and the state of his squad ahead of the new campaign.
Speaking to Real Madrid TV (h/t Diario AS), Mourinho touched on the team’s progress, the impact of his new arrivals, and the excitement building among supporters.
Mourinho pleased with pre-season
It was yet another impressive showing by Real Madrid. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
The coach was encouraged by what he saw against Schalke, describing it as an ideal final rehearsal before competitive action begins.
“Positive. Positive as a team. Positive individually,” Mourinho said.
“Obviously, some players arrived later and don’t yet have the same intensity as the guys who came on the first day.
“Those who started on the first day have had 30 training sessions and 6 matches; those who arrived now have had three or four training sessions. There’s obviously a difference in rhythm, intensity, and stamina.”
He added: “But tactically, the ideas are gradually taking shape. The players have superior quality, incredible quality. We’re working very well as a team, with and without the ball.”
“I think it was a very good test, a very good final training session before the real work begins, because the real work is competing, fighting for points. That’s what we love, and we’re right there on the verge of it.”
Growing as a team
Asked about the contributions of his returning stars and new signings, Mourinho preferred to focus on the collective rather than individuals.
“Right now it’s difficult to talk about individual players because we’re growing as a team. We only have good players, very good players, and extremely good players.
“From the combined efforts of these players, we have to create a very, very good team, and we’re taking the right steps to achieve that,” he said.
Mourinho also heaped praise on the new signings, with Marc Cucurella notably making his unofficial debut while Carlos Espi impressed once again with another goal.
“I’m also very happy with the recent arrivals. It’s not easy to get into the high intensity we’re working at, having double sessions in the morning with the group and then again at five in the afternoon. They arrived with a top-notch mentality,” he said.
The coach also explained how carefully the minutes of his returning internationals are being managed.
“Then there’s the issue of Kylian [Mbappe] getting 45 minutes, Konate getting 30, Jude [Bellingham] getting 30, Cucurella getting 30, Diomande getting 30.
“These are things we analyze scientifically with the data we have and, most importantly, with the players’ own understanding of their bodies. We’ve arrived at this week in very good shape for this point in the season. Let’s go for it,” he added.
A message to the fans
Camavinga made an appearance against Schalke. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
Finally, Mourinho shared the excitement of the Real Madrid supporters, insisting that enthusiasm runs throughout the entire club.
“We all are. The most important thing is that the players are excited. If the fans are excited, if I’m excited, and if the president is excited, but they aren’t, we have a problem.”
“And they’re showing that they are. You can see it in small but significant details, like people who were supposed to report on a certain day after their holidays and came early,” he said.
Finally, Mourinho stated how Real Madrid is finally starting to look like a team.
“The players who arrived on the last day prepared very well individually. We’re playing as a team, and there’s empathy, there’s teamwork. The team is starting to look like a team,” he concluded.