Real Madrid News
Former Real Madrid striker reveals what he admired and disliked about Jose Mourinho: ‘Enjoyed training with him’
Jose Mourinho had a very successful first spell at Real Madrid, going toe-to-toe with a super Barcelona team, and now he is back for his second spell.
During his time in the Spanish capital back then, several players played and trained under him, and anecdotes from them are always interesting to hear.
One of them is Borja Mayoral, who spent a stint at Los Blancos and is currently playing for city rivals Getafe.
In an interview with MARCA, the current Getafe striker spoke openly about his experience with Mourinho, describing both the positive influence the coach had on his development and the moments that left him uncomfortable in the dressing room.
Mayoral praises Mourinho’s coaching
Despite not always enjoying regular playing time, Mayoral spoke warmly about Mourinho’s work on the training ground. He said:
“What I liked most, above all, was the training sessions. They were very competitive and very enjoyable. Even though my situation was not ideal, I really enjoyed training with him.”
The striker also revealed that his relationship with Mourinho improved over time and that the Portuguese manager gave him confidence before important matches. He continued:
“As time went on, he even surprised me. Through the conversations we had and some of the things he told me before certain matches, I felt he valued my work.”
“I remember that on one occasion he told me I deserved to have played much earlier, and he also spoke very highly of me in a press conference.”
Mayoral continued by highlighting Mourinho’s approachable side:
“I keep that with me. He was a close person. With Gonzalo Villar, Carles Perez and the Spanish players, he often talked about his time at Real Madrid.”
“I’ve always been very curious, so I took the opportunity to ask him many things about his time at Madrid.”
The criticism that stood out
It was not all praise from Mayoral, however, as he also highlighted the side of Jose that he least liked.
While he reiterated that he was grateful for the support, he also pointed out one area where he felt the coach crossed the line. He said:
“What I liked least? Maybe it was that inability to lose. He made comments inside the dressing room that I didn’t like. Not only towards me, but also towards other teammates.”
He concluded by explaining that he understood Mourinho’s competitive nature but felt respect should always come first. He said:
“I understand that he is a very competitive person and that in the heat of the moment we can all say things, but I believe respect for people should always come above everything else.”
Mayoral’s comments come across as balanced rather than confrontational. However, he also highlighted reasons why his Los Blancos spell reached a very toxic place towards the end.
Jose is now back in the Spanish capital, older, wiser and no less competitive. It remains to be seen how the current squad take to his methods.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid star Huijsen credits Mourinho for improved form in new season: ‘He supports me a lot’
Real Madrid will be looking to get back to winning ways in LaLiga as they take on Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.
The club are coming on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis last weekend but did secure a narrow win over Inter Milan in the midweek Champions League fixture.
Heading into this game, Dean Huijsen, who has been showing a lot of promise in these early parts of the season, spoke to the club’s official media about the match ahead and how Real Madrid have been coping with the pressure early on, among other things.
Huijsen on Rayo and his defensive duties
The young centre-back was fully aware of the threat posed by Rayo and praised the opposition.
“We know that Rayo is a good team, and it’s a tough team to face, and we must give our all as we do in all matches to secure the three points, that’s the only thing that matters, and for the Bernabeu to be with us and for us all to be united,” he said.
He also detailed the defensive demands placed on him by the coaching staff led by Jose Mourinho.
“Well, what every coach asks of you: ferocity, intercepting balls, and winning one-on-one duels. He supports me a lot, and I think this helps me greatly, and defending together as a team,” he said.
On the team’s preparations for the fixture, Huijsen offered an insight into their training routine.
“We’re working on some tactics related to the opponent. And well, after that it depends on the day; we might play a mini-match among ourselves or not,” he added.
Huijsen on Mourinho and his fine form
The Spaniard was quick to credit Mourinho, with whom he previously worked at Roma, for his development and current level.
“We’ve known each other for a while, even though we spent a relatively short time together in Rome. He gave me the opportunity to make the real leap into professional football, and I’ll always be grateful to him for that,” Huijsen said.
Reflecting on his own performances, the defender was in confident mood, once again pointing to the influence of his coach and teammates.
“I think I’m in good shape. Well, I think I’m delivering a good level, and I believe that’s thanks to the coach too, as he keeps track of me and takes great care of me.”
“Well, I’m also doing my very best, and I think the teammates are supporting me too, and this is the perfect equation,” he added.
Finally, Huijsen explained how he manages his recovery amid a congested schedule.
“There are a lot of matches, so we need to recover well and stay focused on football, then you have to sleep well. And yes, on the days after the match, I also take a cold shower and a hot shower to recover better,” he concluded.
