Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has cautioned against comparing his side with Barcelona ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated El Clasico, insisting that his team is still in the early stages of development.
Mourinho made the remarks on Saturday while addressing reporters ahead of the La Liga encounter at Camp Nou, where Madrid will attempt to close the six-point gap separating them from the league leaders.
Barcelona, managed by Hansi Flick, have won consecutive La Liga titles and maintained an unbeaten league record this season. Madrid, meanwhile, appointed Mourinho during the summer after going two seasons without winning a major trophy.
Although Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the season against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, Madrid have won their last four matches, including a 4-1 victory over Leipzig.
Despite the contrasting results, Mourinho argued that recent performances should not change public expectations significantly, maintaining that Barcelona have had more time to establish their playing system.
“I think the people that thought a week ago Barca would thrash us will keep thinking the same thing,” Mourinho said.
The Portuguese tactician stressed that his team had only spent a limited period working together, unlike Flick’s Barcelona, where the German coach has been in charge since 2024.
According to Mourinho, Madrid are still undergoing a rebuilding process, with the coaching staff assessing players, establishing tactical structures and helping the squad adapt to new ideas.
He described comparisons between his relatively new team and more established sides as unfair, insisting that Madrid should not be judged as though they were already a finished product.
Nevertheless, Mourinho expressed confidence in his players’ recent performances, noting that the team had been winning matches, scoring goals and displaying positive form.
He, however, warned that previous results would have little influence on Sunday’s showdown, describing El Clasico as a unique contest that attracts the attention of football fans worldwide.
Mourinho also ruled out altering his tactical philosophy specifically to contain Barcelona’s teenage winger, Lamine Yamal, who has been in impressive form and is hoping to win the Ballon d’Or.
While acknowledging Yamal’s quality, the Madrid manager insisted that respecting an opponent did not mean abandoning his team’s identity or changing its fundamental approach.
On the Barcelona side, Flick confirmed that Jules Kounde would miss the match through injury, alongside Dani Olmo, Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen.
The German coach said he expected Madrid to arrive with considerable confidence and praised Mourinho’s managerial achievements, describing him as a highly successful and respected colleague.
Flick also acknowledged that Barcelona’s 4-2 defeat to PSG had exposed areas requiring improvement, adding that the team had analysed the performance and identified situations that needed to be addressed.
He described the Clasico as an opportunity for Barcelona to test themselves against one of the world’s strongest teams and continue developing collectively.
With Madrid seeking to reduce the deficit at the top of the table and Barcelona aiming to maintain their advantage, Sunday’s encounter promises to be a significant test for both managers.
