Speaking before Wednesday’s Champions League meeting with RB Leipzig, Mourinho was asked about the standing of players including Vinícius Júnior and Yan Diomande. The Portuguese coach responded with a firm statement about selection and standards.
“What makes players untouchable is not the captain’s armband, their status or how many years they have been here,” Mourinho said. “It’s their level on the pitch. The only untouchable thing is the badge.”
Mourinho confirmed that Vinícius would start against Leipzig, but declined to reveal whether Diomande would feature. The young forward had impressed during Real Madrid’s 4-1 victory over Sevilla, in which Kylian Mbappé scored twice.
The Madrid coach also played down talk of his side being favourites to win the Champions League, arguing that qualification remained the immediate objective under the competition’s league-phase format.
“Real Madrid’s objective right now is not to win the Champions League; it is to qualify,” he said. “If we get enough points, we can look at the second objective, which is avoiding the play-offs.”
Mourinho warned that winning several matches in quick succession did not guarantee another victory, with Leipzig arriving after beating PSV Eindhoven.
“They have three points and want to qualify. We have won three matches in a short period, and the last one was very good. We have to keep going. Winning three does not mean we will win the fourth,” he said.
The coach also discussed his approach to tactics, rejecting the idea that he was unwilling to change his ideas. He said the team still had significant work to do, particularly in building collective understanding and finding the right balance between midfield roles.
Mourinho explained that Arda Güler and Federico Valverde could both adapt to different positions, but that his choices depended on the demands of each match.
“I am not a stubborn coach who lives or dies with one idea,” he said. “That means I am always open to analysing and understanding things to find what is best.”
He also praised the culture of recovery and preparation at the club’s Valdebebas training ground, highlighting the attention players such as Jude Bellingham and Diomande pay to their physical condition.
Mourinho said he had expected the demands of the job and remained focused on improving the team day by day, rather than setting a deadline for his tenure.
“I didn’t come here thinking I would be here for 100 days or three years,” he said. “I try to give my best every day.”