Albiol on Mourinho: "He has known how to adapt; he needs responsible players"

Former Real Madrid and Valencia defender Albiol backs Mourinho's ability to adapt to modern football while managing Real Madrid.

Raúl Albiol, the retired centre-back who played for both Real Madrid and Valencia, has defended José Mourinho's management of Real Madrid ahead of the Mestalla clash. Speaking on À Punt's El Partir de la una programme, Albiol praised the Portuguese manager's evolution. "Mourinho has evolved. He knows that society is different now, and professionals treat young players differently today," Albiol said. "He's from the old school, but he's known how to adapt to the moment we're living in both society and football."

Albiol, who won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa under Mourinho at Real Madrid, expressed confidence in the manager's second spell at the club. "I never had doubts that Mourinho could perform at Real Madrid in this second stage," he stated. The former defender also outlined what he believes Mourinho requires from his squad: "Mourinho needs responsible players who look after themselves. Problems arrive if you're not professional."