Sports
Mourinho Criticises La Liga Schedule After Real Madrid’s 3-0 Win Over Valencia
After Real Madrid defeated Valencia 3-0 at the Mestalla, Jose Mourinho used the post‑match press conference to criticize the Spanish league’s fixture calendar. He said the team’s recent run of matches—three away games against Santander, Athens and Valencia in seven days—left the players with little time to recover, especially after flying back from Greece at three in the morning. Mourinho added that he had no message for La Liga president Javier Tebas, stating that the clubs hold all the power. He asked that the league avoid putting the team in such conditions again, noting the schedule of playing on Sunday, then Wednesday, then Saturday as “something of a joke.” He compared the situation to Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who played on Tuesday and would play again on Sunday, while his players had to sleep at the Valdebebas training base after returning from Athens. Mourinho said he would leave the club alone and praised the players for their unity and cohesion, crediting them for the victories. He highlighted a moment when Kylian Mbappé covered for Arda Guler after the latter lost possession, describing it as a sign of the team’s spirit. Mourinho also commented on the atmosphere at the Mestalla, noting that Valencia fans react strongly to every refereeing decision, unlike the calmer supporters at the Santiago Bernabéu. He finished by criticizing the players’ post‑match celebration, calling the music “truly horrible.”