Mourinho warns trophy-less season at Real Madrid would be deemed failure

José Mourinho used his inaugural pre-match conference after rejoining Real Madrid to declare that a trophy-less season would not count as success, insisting that results are the only pragmatic metric. He outlined the club’s involvement in three primary competitions plus a minor tournament, and warned that structural and tactical enhancements are still required. Mourinho complimented Espanyol’s organization and recent unbeaten start, expressing confidence in his squad’s ambition.

He discussed varying training loads, noting some players have had extensive sessions while others, like Endrick, missed the upcoming game, and Tchouameni is still regaining fitness. The coach described pressure as a motivating adrenaline surge and urged the team to secure three points on the road. He also emphasized the importance of integrating youth prospects and maintaining unity under the captains.