Mourinho has bad feeling: 'I'm worried about the international break'

Mourinho praised Real Madrid's perfect performance against Valencia but expressed concern about the upcoming international break, fearing player fatigue after a grueling fixture schedule.

José Mourinho was delighted with Real Madrid's victory over Valencia, describing it as a perfect performance after a demanding run of four consecutive away matches. The manager praised his squad's growth and resilience, noting that winning through late comebacks—as they did against AEK Athens in the Champions League—feels good but indicates imperfection, whereas Saturday's display was flawless.

However, Mourinho's focus quickly turned to worry about the international break. With players required to report to their national teams on Monday and Tuesday before resuming recovery training on Wednesday, he fears the schedule leaves insufficient rest for exhausted players. He appealed to La Liga to reconsider fixture congestion, saying the marathon of travel and matches between Sunday and Saturday was simply too much. While respectful of national team coaches, Mourinho emphasized his players need recovery, not additional strain.

Despite the concerns, Mourinho was pleased with the mood in the dressing room after the win, describing it as calm and focused. Real Madrid returns to La Liga action on Saturday, November 21, at home against Celta de Vigo.