Jose Mourinho says he feels no added pressure to deliver the Champions League in his second spell as Real Madrid manager, despite the trophy being the only major prize he failed to win during his first period at the club.
Real Madrid begin their European campaign against Serie A champions Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, with Mourinho returning to the competition after the club’s first setback of his latest tenure.
The Spanish side lost 1-0 to Real Betis in LaLiga on Friday, raising questions about how they will respond against Inter. Mourinho, however, rejected the suggestion that he owed Real Madrid success because of what happened during his previous spell, which ended in 2013.
"No, it is two different spells," he said when asked whether he felt indebted to the club.
"When I left in 2013, we won what we won and lost what we lost, and we gave it our all. And that was that. What I need to do now has nothing to do with the past.
"Back in 2010, we weren’t even reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and it had been ages since we’d played in a semi-final. Now we’ve won six Champions Leagues in a little over a decade."
Mourinho said Real Madrid’s ambition remained unchanged, but warned that sustained success would depend on developing greater consistency and stability.
"We want to win every match, every competition," he said. "But you have to work to accomplish stability. Stability. Stability... Structure...
"So Real Madrid need to reach that stability that is so important to achieve something great. But Real Madrid are Real Madrid; you need to win here no matter what."
The Champions League remains a key target for the 15-time European champions, who are seeking to win the competition for the first time since 2024. Real Madrid have also come under pressure to perform this term after two seasons without a major trophy, a period that has coincided with Kylian Mbappe’s arrival at the club.
Mourinho was prepared to discuss the team’s situation at length before attention turned to a more difficult media session involving Mbappe. The France forward faced repeated questions about his relationship with Vinicius Jr. and the mood inside the Real Madrid dressing room.
Asked whether the atmosphere had improved compared with last season, Mbappe challenged the premise of the question.
"What does an improvement in the dressing room mean?" Mbappe said.
"Do you have the feeling that something wasn't right last year? No, it's the same as last year. It's true we have a different coach, but it's the same."
Real Madrid and Inter Milan meet at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday as Mourinho’s side attempt to put the defeat by Real Betis behind them and begin their Champions League campaign with a victory.
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