Jose Mourinho, the coach of Real Madrid, has extended an olive branch to Manuel Pellegrini, his counterpart at Real Betis, ahead of their upcoming La Liga encounter. The Portuguese manager addressed past disagreements between the two, expressing regret over his previous comments.
Mourinho's Reconciliation with Pellegrini
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, as reported by AS, Mourinho stated, “I don’t blame anyone for anything because we can’t go back to the past. But sometimes you say words and then feel like a fool, and you feel you made a mistake.” He admitted, “I said some very stupid words about him before, and I paid the price well.”
Mourinho acknowledged that his achievements with Chelsea impacted the Premier League title race that Pellegrini won with Manchester City. He also recalled a friendly match between Real Betis and Roma, where due to refereeing decisions, his team was reduced to seven players. “Pellegrini said they wouldn’t try to crush us, and they left the score as it was, which was almost 3-1. They could have scored 8 goals,” Mourinho explained.
He concluded, “He is a great coach and an example as a person, and I like him a lot. Tomorrow there will be a hug before and after the match, and then we will start the contest.”
Challenge at Real Betis
Looking ahead to the match against Real Betis, Mourinho emphasized the need for a strong performance. “We must be a great team, otherwise we won’t win. Betis is a very good team, and the recent results of Real Madrid there confirm how difficult it is to win. If you want victory, you have to be at your best, and there is no other option,” he said.
Mourinho on Messi and MLS
Mourinho also discussed Lionel Messi, who recently retired from international football with Argentina. “Talking about Messi is complicated; there is not much to say, and there are no words to describe his quality as a player,” Mourinho remarked.
He added, “He reached the World Cup at the age of 38 or 39, and we saw what he did. He is one of those players you will miss. Perhaps we will have to watch some MLS matches to enjoy his final years, even though it’s a competition I don’t like much.”
Mourinho continued, “There are players you always miss, and Messi is one of those players for our generation.”
Academy Talents to Get Opportunities
Mourinho confirmed that Real Madrid’s academy players will receive chances throughout the season due to fixture congestion, injuries, and suspensions. “We follow them all with great interest, even those who haven’t trained directly with me. Great work has been done in recent years, and the result is players rising to the first team, along with the significant money Real Madrid has earned from transfers of some players,” he said.
He added, “As the season progresses, with suspensions and injuries, opportunities will always come. I know them better now, and we have daily communication with those responsible for the academy. I can’t include everyone, but they can all dream of reaching the first team.”
Mourinho also noted that young signing Sergio Martinez will be in the squad against Betis, along with several academy players, considering their presence with the first team an important step in their development.
Memories of Modric Transfer
Reflecting on the acquisition of Luka Modric, Mourinho recalled the difficulties in negotiating with the player’s club. “We wanted him a lot, but negotiating with Levy was almost impossible. We were following the deal while in the United States, and one day he was close to signing, the next day no, then it would start again,” he said.
He added, “Real Madrid was about to say it was impossible, but the player wanted to come. He was the perfect player because he can play in the 6, 8, or 10 positions.”
Mourinho concluded with a smile, “You killed me for months, but then Modric silenced everyone.”
