Mourinho rejects Barcelona comparisons, says Real Madrid doesn’t compare itself to anyone

Abdullateef Fowewe

Real Madrid manager, José Mourinho has dismissed concerns that Barcelona are playing better football than his side, insisting the club’s historic identity means it refuses to measure itself against any rival.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday ahead of the Madrid derby against Atlético Madrid, Mourinho was asked if he was worried about Barcelona’s strong start to the La Liga season.

He replied, “Am I worried about Barca playing better football than us? Historically, Real Madrid doesn’t compare itself to anyone, to nobody at all. So I won’t compare us to any other team.”

He continued, “I will talk about us, about our issues, about the things we should improve, and the things we do well, that’s it. I’ve noticed, since I came back to Madrid, that it’s very rare to hear people say anything positive about us.”

Mourinho, who returned to the Bernabéu for a second spell as head coach in the summer of 2026 on a three-year contract, described the league campaign as “a marathon” rather than a straight path without obstacles.

He acknowledged Real Madrid’s early-season inconsistency — including games in which the team needed late goals or recovered from dropped leads while highlighting the squad’s collective strength and determination in decisive moments.

Barcelona have impressed with high-scoring performances early in the 2026-27 season, sitting clear at the top of the table.

Real Madrid, under Mourinho’s management following consecutive trophy-less campaigns, have shown resilience but are still fine-tuning consistency after the Portuguese coach’s arrival from Benfica.

The comments come as Mourinho prepares his side for Sunday’s derby at the Metropolitano, with the manager emphasising internal progress over external comparisons.