Real's coach Jose Mourinho stated that it is unfair to compare his team with Spanish champions Barcelona ahead of Sunday's El Clásico match in La Liga.
Hansi Flick's team has won the La Liga title two years in a row and leads the top division, remaining undefeated. Mourinho arrived at the club after Real had not won a major trophy for two seasons. The situation changed slightly after Barca suffered its first defeat of the season against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, while Real won its last four matches.
At the time of the meeting at Camp Nou, Real was in third place in La Liga, six points behind Barcelona. 'I think people who thought a week ago that Barça would crush us will continue to think so,' Mourinho noted on Saturday. 'I don't think that just because of the game in Paris or Madrid's victory over Leipzig (4:1) they will change their minds.'
Mourinho emphasized that he has only been in charge for a few months, unlike Flick, who took over Barcelona in 2024. He continued: 'People look at us as a finished product, but finished products in football are complex because they are never finished... but they look at us as if we are at an advanced stage of the process.'
The coach explained that the team has been working for three months. He specified: 'From this, we can distinguish the preseason when players returned from the World Cup, and the recent international break; then we were together for a month and a half, two months... This is the beginning of the product; we are in the initial phase where the coach learns, analyzes, gradually defines paths, and the players study the coach... I consider it unfair to compare a team in such a state (with more established teams). '
Mourinho also stated that form does not matter in the context of El Clásico. 'We were in good momentum, winning matches, playing well, scoring goals, but in El Clásico, what you did before doesn't matter; it doesn't affect it,' he said. 'El Clásico is unique; usually the whole football world stops to watch it. I hope it will be a great game. And we will win.'
Mourinho added that he does not plan to change his plans regarding the attempt to stop Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal. The 19-year-old Spanish national team player is in excellent form and hopes to win the Ballon d'Or on Monday. 'He is a great player, and great players are respected,' Mourinho added. 'One thing is to respect; another is to change plans, structures, forget one's essence. We will not do that, neither for him nor for any other high-class player we face.'
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick confirmed that Jules Kounde is still injured and will not be able to play in the match, along with Dani Olmo, Eric Garcia, and Andreas Christensen. The German coach expressed anticipation to see a Real team that arrives 'with greater confidence' and highly praised his opponent Mourinho. 'I have the highest respect. When you manage teams of this level for many years and always achieve success, it is a matter of quality; he has shown it in all clubs,' Flick stated. 'Every player from the (German) national team who worked under his guidance speaks with great respect; I think the same. He is a colleague, a very, very successful colleague and a wonderful colleague.'
Flick noted that the 4-2 defeat to PSG in Paris gave his team some insights into areas needing improvement. 'We analyzed that game. We did many things really well, but we saw some situations where we need to improve,' Flick added. 'We must grow as a team. (On Sunday) we are playing against one of the best teams in the world, so this is a good opportunity for growth. To challenge ourselves, to improve ourselves and grow as a team.'