Jose Mourinho hailed Real Madrid’s performance after their victory over Barcelona in El Clásico, describing the result as deserved while praising his players for their organisation, courage and composure under pressure.
The Real Madrid coach was delighted with the team’s display at Camp Nou, insisting his players delivered a high-level performance against a strong Barcelona side in a contest that lived up to its billing.
Mourinho also highlighted the growing understanding within his squad, pointing to the strong connection between the players as a key factor behind their performance.
“It was a great, high-level match, one that the football-loving world surely stopped to watch and was not disappointed, with two teams that played to win. In our case, it’s more my place to speak about my own team than the others. The lads played an extraordinary match, very organized, very focused, and with great courage to play out from the back against an opponent that presses a lot. We had good chances to make it 2-0 at the end of the first half.”
The Portuguese tactician was particularly pleased with how Madrid handled Barcelona’s pressure, especially when attempting to build attacks from the back. He believes his players showed the discipline and confidence needed to compete against an opponent that presses aggressively.
Mourinho also pointed to opportunities Madrid created before the interval, believing they could have established a more comfortable advantage before Barcelona responded after the break.
“At the start of the second half, we had a two-on-one situation with Jude and Kylian . Obviously, Barcelona reacted strongly in the second half, but we remained calm and organized. Even at 1-1, we never lost our composure. For me, it’s a great victory for the lads against a great opponent, with a referee who I think had a very good game, and a VAR that was asleep in the 60th minute with a decision that surely could have had a major influence on the match, which was a clear red card for Joao (Cancelo) on Diomande . Great game, great victory, and the lads deserve it.”
Despite celebrating the result, Mourinho did not hold back in his criticism of VAR. He questioned the failure to issue a red card for João Cancelo following the incident involving Diomande, arguing that the decision could have significantly influenced the contest.
The coach nevertheless reserved most of his post-match assessment for Madrid’s performance, emphasising that his side earned the victory through its overall display rather than relying on luck or defensive resistance alone.
The result could also prove important in the wider title race, with Mourinho acknowledging that the outcome carried significant implications for the points gap between the rivals.
“This was a game where we could have gone down by three, six, or nine points. Obviously, going down by nine is tough psychologically. Going down by six would have been more balanced. Going down by three is different, and the way we won is also important because you can win with luck and by playing great defense. We won comfortably and deservedly.”
Mourinho also pointed to the unity developing within the squad, describing a group whose connection continues to strengthen. That growing understanding, combined with the team’s tactical discipline, could prove valuable as the season progresses.
For Madrid, the victory offers more than bragging rights over their biggest rivals. Mourinho’s assessment suggests he sees a team capable of managing pressure, creating chances and staying composed when momentum shifts.
His message after El Clásico was clear: the players deserved the win, and their performance showed the strength of a group growing together at an important stage of the campaign.
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