Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Mourinho described a derby that he treats as another week of three points at stake, but which he also views through its cultural weight, having lived them in Lisbon, Porto, London, Milan, Manchester and Istanbul.
Asked about Atletico Madrid coach Simeone, he chose the word respect.
“Over a career we say so many silly things that if you go back, none of us is safe. Or things influenced by the moment... or strategically. They called me to speak in the Simeone documentary and I didn’t hesitate for a minute. He knows what I think of him. The first thing is respect. We are rivals, but comrades in war.”
The Real Madrid coach was more pointed when discussing his own side, and how they have got results in games that were slipping away.
“In the three matches where we have reached the final minutes needing to score to win or draw, we have ended with a physical and psychological strength and a commitment and determination... you can say clearly: it is not normal to go 0-2 up at Elche and be pegged back in the 80th minute.
"But it is also not normal that they equalise and in a few minutes the team changes, has one, another, another... and scores and wins. With Betis it was the same. This team has, as well as quality, a strength with a very great meaning. Which is the strength of a group. And this gives me confidence. This is a marathon, not a motorway.”
He was also asked about the lapses in concentration that Madrid keep suffering.
“I don’t know if I will manage to get the team to come out at 100%, but that is my intention and that of my players. But I don’t know if I will manage it. We have played many games in a row, but we have managed to correct some things, it’s a process. If there are clubs that train for three, four or five days in a row... if we always talk about evolution, imagine us, who in these few months have already played seven or eight official matches. We have to improve. But also get results. And we are working. We have a lot of confidence, but we also know that we must work.”
On the shirts supporting Ceuta, he said only that he speaks about football.
He closed with a comment on the refereeing.
“The penalties last week? It’s late now. A matchday has passed. We could talk about why Elche ended with eleven. But if we get into that... It’s a bit strange that a week ago we already knew tomorrow’s referee. I prefer to say that if he has been appointed, it is because he has quality. Enough experience for a match of this emotional dimension.
"I don’t like talking about referees before the match. Afterwards we will see. But before, he has all my confidence.”