Mourinho Wants Both to Lose as Atletico Madrid and Barcelona Prepare for Title Clash
Mourinho wants both to lose ahead of the Atletico Madrid against Barcelona title clash, and the Real Madrid boss made the blunt admission at hispre-match press conference on Friday. Jose Mourinho was asked for his take on the Sunday meeting at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, and he answered that he would like both title rivals to drop points.
I would like both to lose. It is not possible. It is very easy for me because someone will drop points. Last week we all won, but this weekend we know that one or both of them will drop points. Honestly, I do not care.
The remark sets up a huge weekend in the LaLiga title race. Barcelona lead the table with 30 points from 11 games, Atletico Madrid sit second with 28 points, and Real Madrid sit third with 27 points. Mourinho takes his team to Valencia on Saturday night, and then he watches the top two meet on Sunday. Whatever happens at the Metropolitano, someone will drop points, and Real Madrid can gain ground.
Why Mourinho Wants Both to Lose on Sunday
The maths explain the joke. If Barcelona lose on Sunday, Atletico Madrid move top of the table with 31 points. If Real Madrid also win at Valencia on Saturday, Mourinho and his team move level with Barcelona on 30 points. A draw at the Metropolitano leaves Barcelona on 31 points and Atletico Madrid on 29, and a Real Madrid win at Mestalla would then cut the gap to the leaders to a single point.
Atletico Madrid arrive in strong form. Diego Simeone and his team have won seven LaLiga matches in a row, even though they lost 2-0 at home to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday. Barcelona still hold the recent record at the ground, with four wins from the last four league visits to the Metropolitano. Barcelona captain Raphinha leads a side that has scored freely all season, and the leaders carry a goal difference of plus 34.
Barcelona will be without Rodri for the trip. The midfielder was ruled out with a hamstring injury confirmed by the club on Wednesday, and he misses the clash with Atletico Madrid. His absence leaves Hansi Flick with a gap in midfield for the biggest league match of the season so far.
Mourinho Calls Valencia One of the Toughest Matches in LaLiga
Before Sunday, Real Madrid face a hard test of their own. Mourinho and his team travel to Mestalla on Saturday night for a 9:00 pm local time kickoff against Valencia. Mourinho called the match one of the toughest in the entire league, and he praised Valencia as a big club with a very experienced coach who knows exactly what he wants for his teams.
Valencia had the whole week to prepare, and Mourinho made clear that his team must be at their best to win. Real Madrid arrive on a run of seven consecutive wins in all competitions, with five of those wins in LaLiga. The team arrived back from Athens at three in the morning after the midweek trip, and Mourinho said the feedback from the players was positive after two recovery days.
Team news brings changes at the back. Mourinho said that Konate and Huijsen will play on Saturday, after Militao and Rudiger played a great game in Athens. He distributed minutes among players who can share them, and he noted that the players who go to their national teams have Sunday off and can spend time with their families.
Mourinho Puts Team Above Vinicius as AEK Rest Is Explained
Vinicius Junior started the midweek match in Athens, and Mourinho explained the selection as a rest decision for Arda Guler. The match against AEK was for Vinicius Junior, Mourinho said, to give some rest to a player like Guler, who had some issues. For Mourinho, the most important thing is the team, and he said he would never by his own will harm the team to benefit a player.
The Real Madrid boss also backed Vinicius Junior to return to his best form. He said the version of Vinicius Junior who eliminated him from the Champions League exists, and the club expects that version again. A coach must do everything to have his players at the highest level, Mourinho said, and the friendship of teammates matters when decisions are made about who plays.
When we return to normal with Vini Jr. being available, I will manage it. I want the team to think game by game, but as a coach, I have to think about the next matches and the sequence of games we have.
Mourinho Wants Faster Starts After Comeback Run
Mourinho also wants his team to start matches better. He said it is better not to have to come from behind, and he pointed to the win at Racing Santander as the model. Real Madrid won 3-0 in Santander, and Mourinho said it could have been four or five by half time.
The comebacks have brought belief, the group, friendship, openness to risky situations, a strong bench and motivation, Mourinho said. But coming from behind also has a negative side, and the coach wants more consistency in starting games well, at home and away. There is a lot to do, he added, and the work starts with the trip to Valencia.
Mourinho on Ronaldo Retirement and Valverde Captaincy
Mourinho was also asked about Cristiano Ronaldo and his retirement from the national team. He said he does not want to comment on it, and the decision should be respected. It is not a retirement, Mourinho added, and the career is not over. Those who know Ronaldo know that he still has goals in his career, and the only thing Mourinho would like is for his retirement as a player to be on a different day than yesterday.
The Real Madrid boss also praised captain Federico Valverde. Mourinho said he has seen a great guy since they started working together, professional, humble, and a friend to his teammates. Being the captain of Real Madrid has given Valverde a sense of responsibility, Mourinho said, and being the captain of Real Madrid is no easy task.
What the Title Race Looks Like After Matchday 12
The weekend goes ahead with tributes to Jesus de Miguel across all competitions. Mourinho said the tributes are significant, and he added that only family, friends and teammates can answer what Jesus would like to happen. If it were possible to talk to Jesus and ask him the question, that would be the ideal situation, Mourinho said. The tribute is to Jesus, and those who know him deeply should speak.
After the weekend, the international break begins, and Mourinho said he is not worried about the national teams. His concern is the match against Valencia, against a fresh team that had the whole week to prepare, with a coach who is not concerned about whether the team will play beautifully or not, but about winning the game at all costs.
The table below shows the top three after Matchday 11, before the weekend fixtures.
| Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | 11 | 30 |
| Atletico Madrid | 11 | 28 |
| Real Madrid | 11 | 27 |
Sunday decides the lead. If Atletico Madrid win, they go top by a point. If Barcelona win, they stretch the lead to five points over Atletico Madrid and six over Real Madrid. If the match ends level, Barcelona stay top, and Real Madrid can close to within a point by winning at Valencia on Saturday. Mourinho will watch it all, and he has already said what he wants to happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Mourinho say about Atletico Madrid against Barcelona?
Mourinho said he would like both teams to lose when he was asked about the title clash at his press conference on Friday. He said it is not possible for both to lose, and he added that someone will drop points, because last week all three teams won and this weekend one or both of them will drop points. He finished by saying that honestly, he does not care.
When is Atletico Madrid against Barcelona and where is the match played?
Atletico Madrid host Barcelona on Sunday 8 November at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, the home of Atletico Madrid. Kickoff is at 9:00 pm CET. Barcelona lead the table by two points from Atletico Madrid, so the winners take the lead.
What happens to the title race if Barcelona lose on Sunday?
Atletico Madrid move top of the table with 31 points if they beat Barcelona. If Real Madrid also win at Valencia on Saturday, Mourinho and his team move level with Barcelona on 30 points. A draw leaves Barcelona on 31 points and Atletico Madrid on 29, and Real Madrid can cut the gap to a point with a win at Mestalla.
When do Real Madrid play Valencia?
Real Madrid travel to Valencia on Saturday 7 November, with kickoff at 9:00 pm local time at Mestalla. Mourinho called it one of the toughest matches in the entire league, and he said his team must be at their best to win.
