Mourinho: As long as players don't betray me on the pitch, I will always support them

According to Marca, Real Madrid coach José Mourinho explained his reasons for returning to Real Madrid and elaborated on his coaching philosophy, including his motto "Don't betray me" and his views on players breaking conventions on the pitch, during an interview on a car program.

Mourinho stated that he decided to return to Real Madrid because the club wanted him back, and the way the club communicated with him played an important role. He explained that after leaving Real Madrid in 2013, they maintained close contact, and his relationship with the club, the president, and the board remained strong.

Mourinho recalled that at the end of last season, the club contacted him and said: "We know you, and you know us; you know this club, its culture, and its people. We know how you work. We want you to rebuild this team. We need you to start a new glorious decade." Mourinho admitted that he was happy at Benfica and content in Portugal, but Real Madrid is Real Madrid, and everyone at the club understood that his return was a major opportunity.

Regarding his working methods, Mourinho emphasized that he values constant communication with players. He shares his tactical ideas and strategies, but believes that understanding how players feel is paramount. He asks whether they believe they can execute his demands, and if not, he wants to hear their perspective. Mourinho called this process "discovery and guidance," where both parties collaborate to reach an ideal state where coach and players are comfortable. He believes that if players are doing something they don't believe in, it won't work.

Mourinho quoted one of his university teachers: "You don't train footballers, you train people." He emphasized that a person is first a human being and then a footballer, so the personal dimension of the work is crucial.

Mourinho revealed his motto "Don't betray me" to the interviewer. He explained that when he says this, he means it in a football sense, naturally. As long as they don't betray him on the pitch, he will always support his players, regardless of what happens.

Mourinho emphasized that football is ultimately not a job but a way of life. If you treat it as a hobby, you've failed. He said players are footballers 24 hours a day; although they train only two or three hours daily, everything affects their performance – what they eat, drink, and how they sleep away from the club, and every aspect of their private lives. He noted regretfully that players cannot ski or cycle, and if someone does so secretly, he doesn't care about the contract; he cares about the player's professional commitment. A fall from a bike could mean missing three matches or more. He acknowledged that players might have friends who are young and single, in their early twenties, who go to nightclubs on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights, but players cannot do the same; they can only go out the night after a match, and even then, only if there isn't another match three days later.

Mourinho acknowledged that becoming a footballer requires significant sacrifice, but a career is short, and after retiring around 35, there are many years to enjoy life. He recently watched a documentary about Nadal, who, though not a footballer, is undoubtedly an exceptional athlete, and the sacrifices he made to achieve such a career were remarkable. Ultimately, there is always a correlation between what you gain and what you invest.

Mourinho stated that there are two types of rules: some are non-negotiable, while others he is happy to see players break. He explained that if a meeting is set for nine o'clock, it's nine o'clock for everyone. Even if you're a superstar, arriving at quarter past nine is unacceptable; he will not tolerate such basic rules being broken. However, during a match, if a player uses talent, creativity, or instinct to break convention and take risks to try something different, he would do the same. When preparing for a match, he tries to minimize unpredictability and develop a plan, but during the match, he doesn't think about analysts or assistants; he acts purely on instinct. If the result isn't as expected, he doesn't blame himself because he did it for the team, because he felt it was the best option. When players break the rules that way – taking calculated risks guided by intuition – it sometimes feels inspired. Reflecting after the match, if the result is extraordinary, you might think: "My God, it was fate guiding me to do this." So he trusts his players on the pitch more. For him, non-negotiable rules apply off the pitch; on the pitch, rules must be broken.

Mourinho believes that footballers are artists. Anyone who reaches a certain level in any field possesses exceptional talent. At that level, it's not just about training, academic education, or university learning; you also possess talent that may be God-given. So you must follow your instincts and trust your intuition.

Mourinho also discussed managing star players. He said that true superstars never cause problems due to ego, because those who do are not superstars to him. For him, a superstar is a complete package, including personality traits where ego is proportional to talent. But at some point, they know when to stop; when they don't know when to stop and want to cross the line, they are no longer superstars to him.

Mourinho stated that he learns every day, learning from difficult moments and from the people he works with, especially the players. He said that to win, we must work together, we must fight for each other, and sacrifice for each other. Ultimately, there is always a correlation between what you gain and what you put in.

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