New Real Madrid manager José Mourinho says he has returned to the club with a clear mission—to rebuild a culture of hard work, responsibility and ambition during his second spell in charge.
Speaking to Real Madrid TV on Friday as he supervised preparations for the start of pre-season, the Portuguese coach said his focus is on helping everyone at the club improve rather than pursuing personal success.
“This is like a mission,” Mourinho said.
“I’m not worried about myself or whether I will win a lot or a little. I’m here to help everyone become better—players, coaches and staff—to create a culture of work, responsibility and ambition, while reminding everyone of the honour and responsibility of working for Real Madrid.”
Mourinho was appointed in June to replace Álvaro Arbeloa after Real Madrid endured two consecutive seasons without a major trophy. His return is widely seen as part of club president Florentino Pérez’s plan to restore discipline and stability to the dressing room.
The Spanish giants endured a turbulent campaign last season. Former coach Xabi Alonso left the club in January, while tensions within the squad became evident when midfielders Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde clashed in May, leaving Valverde requiring hospital treatment.
Neither Alonso nor Arbeloa succeeded in finding the right balance to maximise the talents of Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior without weakening the team’s overall structure.
During his first stint at the Santiago Bernabéu between 2010 and 2013, Mourinho guided Madrid to major domestic success and built a fiercely competitive side capable of challenging Pep Guardiola’s dominant Barcelona.
Reflecting on his return, the 63-year-old stressed that representing Real Madrid goes beyond simply holding the coaching position.
“It’s not about working at Real Madrid; it’s about working for Real Madrid,” he said. “That sense of mission is what has brought me back.”
Real Madrid have also strengthened their squad ahead of the new season with the signings of Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries and Ibrahima Konaté.
