José Mourinho has warned his Real Madrid players that the easy part of pre-season is over, insisting that “the real work” begins next week after their 1–0 victory over Deportivo La Coruña.
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Brahim Díaz scored the only goal as Madrid edged Deportivo in the Trofeo Teresa Herrera, giving Mourinho another positive result during his preparations for the new campaign.
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But despite the victory, the Portuguese coach was already looking beyond the result.
Mourinho Wants More From Madrid
Mourinho's message was clear: pre-season results are useful, but they are not the main objective.
The Real Madrid boss used the Deportivo match as another opportunity to test his squad, including changes in personnel and formation. He also carefully managed the minutes of several players, with Fede Valverde and Arda Güler each playing 45 minutes.
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For Mourinho, the bigger picture matters more than another friendly victory.
Brahim Decides Another Tight Game
Madrid's narrow victory was secured by Brahim Díaz, who provided the decisive moment in the 1–0 win.
The result continued Mourinho's unbeaten start and gave his players another competitive test before the season begins. [�FotMob]
However, the manager was not interested in allowing the result to create a false sense of security.
He believes the increasing difficulty of the pre-season fixtures has been important preparation for what awaits Madrid in competitive football.
The Countdown Is On
Mourinho's warning comes with the new season approaching.
The Madrid squad is still being assembled, with several players returning at different stages of pre-season. The manager has therefore used these matches to assess his options and introduce his ideas.
But next week represents a different stage.
The experimentation will increasingly give way to preparation for matches where points and trophies are at stake.
Mourinho's Message Is Clear
The victory over Deportivo was another step forward, but Mourinho knows Madrid cannot judge their progress purely on friendly results.
The Portuguese manager wants his players to understand that the standards will rise once the competitive campaign begins.
For the Madrid dressing room, the message could hardly be clearer:
Enjoy the win — then get ready to work.
Mourinho has seen enough from pre-season to know what his squad can do. Now comes the demanding part.
Real Madrid won again, but Mourinho is already warning his stars: the real work starts next week.
Fan Debate
●⚽ Goal: Can Mourinho bring Real Madrid back to the top?
●🔥 Fire: Mourinho is already demanding more!
●😲 Shock: Are Madrid ready for the new season?
●👍 Like: Is this the right approach to pre-season?
●💬 Comment: What should Mourinho's biggest priority be?
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