Sports
Mourinho Blasts Real Madrid's Complacency After Shaky Win Over Elche
By Loai Mohamed
Jose Mourinho criticized his Real Madrid squad following a tense 3-2 victory over bottom-placed Elche at the Manuel Martinez Valero, saying the team lost control of the match and allowed their opponents back into contention. The result, secured on Tuesday in the sixth round of La Liga, leaves supporters uneasy ahead of Sunday's derby against Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano.
Speaking to reporters, Mourinho noted that Madrid appeared dominant in the first half, with expectations of a much larger margin of victory. However, he said the team dropped its intensity in the second half, leaving space for Elche to capitalize. He explained that substitutions bringing on Jude Bellingham and Brahim Diaz were meant to add solidity to midfield, but Elche still managed to score, aided by strong crowd support at their stadium.
Mourinho praised his players' mentality and unity but reiterated his central concern: the team's inability to close out matches decisively. "We can kill matches off and we don't, and we gave a team that looked dead a chance to come back to life," he said.
On squad rotation amid a busy fixture schedule, Mourinho pointed out that only Kylian Mbappe and Ibrahima Konate had played full matches in the recent games against Inter, Rayo Vallecano, and Elche. He said the team now needs rest before preparing for their next fixture on Thursday.
Addressing a recurring pattern of lapses in concentration, Mourinho suggested that his players sometimes underestimate opponents they consider inferior, leading to lost control during matches. He added that difficult, high-pressure atmospheres tend to bring out the best in his squad, joking that "no one gets bored in Real Madrid's matches, because they are very entertaining."
The manager singled out Carlos Espi, who scored the winning goal, for praise, highlighting his motivation and ability to play alongside Mbappe despite the tactical challenges of fitting two non-traditional wingers into a 4-4-2 system. He also praised Yan Diomande, who played 85 minutes despite carrying a yellow card, calling his performance intelligent and full of effort.
When asked why Real Madrid have conceded in every match this season, Mourinho said he values both attacking output and defensive control, adding that Tuesday's goals stemmed from a loss of control in play rather than isolated incidents unrelated to the game's context.
Mourinho also addressed speculation around Arda Guler's role, stating that no player is indispensable. He explained that Guler's intensity dropped while playing as a number 10, a position that requires covering significant ground across the pitch, prompting his substitution.
Reflecting on the overall performance, Mourinho described the match as having multiple phases: strong pressing and quality play at times, but ultimately summarized by two contrasting outcomes—either finishing off an opponent or being finished off by them.