Real Madrid manager José Mourinho attended the pre-match press conference ahead of the clash against Villarreal. During the conference, Mourinho addressed the recent media frenzy surrounding Kylian Mbappé.
Kylian Mbappé has been at the center of the storm, and it looks as though he will face a "trial" at the Santiago Bernabéu. What is your take on this?
Mourinho: If something like that actually happens, for you all, that would be a massive triumph. Whether it is a massive case like Manchester City's, that old saga you all love talking about so much, or the complicated situation back in my country involving Cristiano Ronaldo and his manager... So many stories have provided you with plenty of reporting material, yet you are still not satisfied. Real Madrid is Real Madrid; you always have to dig something up from here.
I had originally assumed the first question would be the only one discussing actual football business, like a difficult match ahead. Your question was the first one... and yet here we are, talking about this instead.
Do you feel that the controversy stirred up around Mbappé is a bit exaggerated?
Mourinho: Exaggerated? It is downright ridiculous.
Beyond finding it ridiculous, what else do you think? I'm referring more to the player's personal life. Do you think it is fair to judge his private life, or should he only be evaluated on his sporting performance?
Mourinho: In my view, a footballer is a footballer 24 hours a day. Whatever significant or negative actions he takes in his personal life will inevitably carry some form of impact. However, I always maintain that first and foremost, a player is a human being. He might make mistakes, but he must also carry a sense of responsibility.
To be honest, I haven't managed in Spain for 13 years. You know me: I do not lie. I might try to sidestep certain questions or navigate tricky topics in a slightly cleverer manner, but lying? I will not do it. That applies to absolutely everything. If you ask me who is starting, I can choose not to tell you, but I will never claim someone won't play only to field him in the end.
Throughout this period, the players' conduct has been exemplary. We made arrangements to ensure they were fully aware of everything related to their respective national teams, as well as when they were permitted to take time off. Everything was laid out crystal clear, and everyone adhered to the plan.
Injured players returned to Valdebebas immediately to receive diagnoses and map out recovery schedules. Take Arda Güler, for example: because he was suspended and could not feature in his fourth match, I granted him two extra days off that were not originally scheduled. Those players with more substantial injuries are here every single day, such as Federico Valverde and Ibrahima Konaté.
Take Mbappé again: he arrived here and underwent medical assessment. He also went to an external medical facility for a consultation because his knee has a previous injury history that cannot be disregarded. The evaluations from both sides aligned completely, and a rehabilitation program was established; there is no need to lay out every single detail for you.
What followed next was your typical routine of digging around for problems everywhere. As if the real issues occurring across world football over these past two weeks were not enough, you had to keep hunting for issues.
First came the so-called "nightclub," which was never a nightclub at all, but rather a venue hosting private gatherings during Paris Fashion Week. Then came the story about him riding a bicycle in Switzerland. He stayed at a hotel composed of individual chalets in a very tranquil environment; the bicycle was merely a means of transportation to get back and forth to the hotel's common areas. Yet you reported it as if he had entered the Tour de Suisse.
And then there is poor Dean Huijsen. He had simply pulled over outside Petar Sučić's house and was sending a text message, yet you almost portrayed him as a criminal tearing down the highway at 200 km/h while texting.
Let me knock on wood for good measure, because anything can happen on a football pitch. But let me hand you an actual news story: for the first time in nearly a decade at Real Madrid heading into mid-October, there are zero newly added injuries. Every existing injury carried over from last season. This is the very first time. It is great news, but you people don't like reporting that.
