Jose Mourinho has delivered a confident update on Real Madrid while insisting his players must stay fully focused when Rayo Vallecano visit the Bernabeu.
Madrid head into Saturday’s La Liga clash in positive mood, with Mourinho describing the squad as happy, united and working well as they prepare for another demanding league test.
The Portuguese manager also made it clear that preparation is about more than simply working hard on the training pitch.
Recovery, tactical discipline and respect for the opposition will all be crucial, particularly against a Rayo side arriving with confidence after securing their first victory of the campaign.
“We are happy, united, and working well. Working well also means recovering well. Today we did tactical training without much intensity, for a short time, but with great respect for our opponent,” Mourinho said.
“They are coming off a victory and haven’t won other matches, but they demonstrated their quality and why we need to be very focused for tomorrow’s game. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Beñat San José because he had some very kind words for me. I didn’t deserve so much, and I want to thank him publicly. I’ll have the chance to give him a hug tomorrow.”
While Mourinho is demanding concentration from his squad, his most striking comments were reserved for Vinicius Jr.
The Brazilian winger has faced scrutiny over his performances, but Mourinho believes criticism comes with the territory when a player has already produced at the highest level.
Rather than questioning Vinicius’ ability, the Madrid boss insists the forward is working harder than ever and is edging closer to rediscovering his best version.
Mourinho used a Portuguese proverb to explain why expectations remain so high around the Brazilian.
“In Portugal there’s a proverb, I don’t know if it exists in Spain, that says you only throw stones at trees that bear fruit. What has Vini Jr. done here in recent years? How many Champions Leagues has he won and how many goals has he scored? What has he done here in the last five or six years? He’s a tree that bears a lot of fruit, and people throw stones because they want fruit. They want the best from Vinicius, and the best is coming.
“Against Benfica, he single-handedly finished off the tie. That Vinicius is coming, but he hasn’t been there yet. What we have is a Vini who is working harder than ever. In this data-driven age, he’s very close to his top speed. He’s broken his record for ball recoveries and also for time in the defensive third… He’s coming soon.”
That is a significant vote of confidence from Mourinho.
The manager believes the numbers are already revealing signs that Vinicius is moving in the right direction, even if his most devastating form has not yet fully returned.
For Madrid, that could be a frightening prospect for opponents. A Vinicius operating at his peak can change games with his acceleration, movement and ability to attack defenders. Mourinho clearly believes that version is close to returning.
But before Madrid can think about what Vinicius might produce in the coming weeks, Rayo Vallecano demand their immediate attention.
Mourinho knows a team coming off a victory can be dangerous, particularly when it has nothing to lose and arrives with belief.
That is why the message from the Madrid boss is straightforward: respect the opponent, stay focused and maintain the standards already being established inside the squad.
Madrid’s mood may be positive. Their preparation may be strong. But Mourinho knows the real test begins when the ball starts rolling at the Bernabeu.
And with Vinicius edging closer to his best, the Madrid boss will hope Saturday provides another opportunity for his star winger to remind everyone exactly what he can do.
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