Mourinho underlines the key for Real Madrid ahead of CL opener vs Inter: ‘Must have the ability to overcome…’

Mourinho underlines the key for Real Madrid ahead of CL opener vs Inter: ‘Must have the ability to overcome…’ Real Madrid begin their Champions League campaign on Tuesday when they welcome Inter Milan to the Bernabeu. Ahead of the crucial European opener, coach Jose Mourinho sat down with the club media to discuss a range of topics, from his personal ambition to the threat posed by Real Madrid’s continental rivals. Mourinho on his ambition and Real Madrid’s demands First and foremost, Mourinho talked about his ambition and a personal drive to win every match possible. “I always want to win the next match. My ambition is always renewed. It doesn’t renew from season to season, but from match to match. “If I won yesterday, I want to win again. If I lost yesterday, I don’t want to lose again, and I want to win. I enter into this cycle that is a renewed ambition. That’s my nature,” he said. The Portuguese also embraced the weight of expectation that comes with managing Real Madrid. Mourinho has a weight of expectation on his shoulders. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images) “Real Madrid has an exceptional dimension, we know that. The responsibilities are enormous, yes, and the expectations are enormous too. But I’m comfortable with that.” On his squad and defending his players Mourinho was quick to praise the quality at his disposal, adding that elite players are a prerequisite for success in Europe. “I am the first to highlight the fact that we have players of a very high level. But when we look at the teams favoured to win this competition, which major contender doesn’t have big players in their squad? “In fact, it’s impossible to win it if you don’t have players at this level,” he explained. He also reaffirmed his commitment to protecting his players, even in moments of frustration. “My story is simple. My players are always the best. My players are always the ones I have to defend. “If in a moment of specific frustration I said a word or had a reaction that seemed the opposite, these are moments of emotional control loss that any coach goes through, even the most experienced like me. “But the way is that they give everything for you, and you give everything for them. It’s mutual,” he added. Wary of the competition Turning to Real Madrid’s rivals, Mourinho identified several sides he considers genuine contenders for the trophy. “Arsenal has been searching for the Champions League for more than twenty years, and last season they were just one match away from achieving it. They have the potential for it, and they’ll attack with full force,” he said. He went on to talk about his former club Inter Milan, with whom he had won the Champions League. “Inter Milan hasn’t won the Champions League for many years, and they have a fantastic team. A team, I would say, that improves every year, because it’s a team that has been working for years with coaches who play with the same five-defender system, one player leaves and a better one comes in. Mourinho believes Arsenal are a strong UCL contender. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images) “And it’s clear that they’ll fight with everything to win their Champions League. I think these two teams are clear contenders.” “After that, as I said, there are champions from other countries who also want to qualify. Roma has a really special team this season. And there are teams like Leipzig and PSV and Ajax, teams with big traditions in European competitions ,” he added. On control, suspensions and optimism Mourinho acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the Champions League, pointing to the suspensions that have disrupted his preparations for the Inter clash. “I think it’s completely impossible for the coach to control everything. Never. And even less so in a competition like the Champions League at this high level. “ And as the competition progresses, the level gets higher. Then there are small details that happen and slip out of our control. All these details are important,” he said. “For example, in the first round of this competition, we have three suspended players, three players carrying over sanctions from the previous season. “For that to happen in the first match is tough, but imagine it happening in a semi-final or in a classic final. These are things that slip out of our control. But the better prepared the team is, the better prepared we are to face the unexpected in the game ,” he added. Finally, the Portuguese called for a grounded sense of optimism, both from himself and his squad, ahead of the challenges to come. “The first ones who should be optimistic should be me and the players. We are the ones who should truly be optimistic. “ Optimistic in a realistic way, optimistic calmly, optimistic knowing that the negative moment will come, and that building a strong, united, and optimistic group is the best way to overcome the difficult moment when it comes,” he said . “Because I sometimes say that the season is not a straight, fast road, but one with ups and downs and curves. And we must have the ability to overcome all of that,” Mourinho concluded