Ahead of Matchweek 11 in La Liga, where Real Madrid visit Racing de Santander, head coach Jose Mourinho attended the pre-match press conference.
Mourinho: “Before we begin, I would like to express my condolences, personally and on behalf of the entire club, to the victims of the (train collision) tragedy.”
On the match
Mourinho: "We are in good shape, we trained very well, and we are fully prepared for this match. Since their promotion to La Liga, Racing de Santander have already played five home matches, achieving three wins and two draws, and they have been playing very well.
"This match is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, which is a kickoff time we are not particularly accustomed to; it will be very difficult. If we can win another match, the previous victory will hold greater meaning; otherwise, it won't be as significant.
“We must respect Racing de Santander. They are a team with a very distinct identity in how they play, and depending on their head coach's different phases, they will approach the game with the ambition to win. We will not be caught off guard by them; we are well aware of the difficulty of the match.”
On the Ballon d'Or
Mourinho: "I had the privilege of working with Kane. He is a tremendous person in every aspect. Although I was a bit frustrated that I didn't win, I am happy for Kane; it is fully deserved.
“On the other hand, Kylian is unique. There is a Ballon d'Or winner every single year, but there is only one greatest player in World Cup history. Seeing Bellingham placed 11th, that voting outcome left me stunned, no comment.”
Any changes in the squad following El Clasico?
Mourinho: "None. Since I took over, we started with wins, though we later experienced defeats as well, but what I observe has consistently remained the same. Naturally, expressions alter with the results, but I have consistently seen the same empathy, respect, willingness to work, and sense of balance in the face of both victory and defeat.
"We are not an exceptionally experienced squad, but I genuinely see maturity as a collective team. Staying calm during difficult moments, and doing the exact same during moments of glory.
"At Barcelona we celebrated, but afterward it was the bus, the plane, a rest day, normal training, and the identical focus and motivation. When we began preparing for this match, I saw a serious and committed approach. I am very pleased with this level of maturity.
“Just as I stated in the press conference at Barcelona, our objective this season is not beating Barcelona in a single game, but winning the league championship. We are working diligently along this path.”
On his personal philosophy
Mourinho: "As I grow older, I feel more balanced. It has reached the point of 'I don't care what others say'; if someone criticizes me, it doesn't affect me. When people say what I did or didn't do at Barcelona, I no longer buy into that either.
"The players were the ones who won at Barcelona. If, after a match concludes, I feel I was able to help, I feel very happy. I am neither braver nor more conservative, nor am I more slanted toward defense or attack.
"That version of me from the early days who was regarded as defensive-minded was the defensive coach who earned 100 points and scored over 120 goals. I hope we can achieve that many points and score that many goals this season as well. If there is anything different about me, it is that I am not stubborn.
"I am open to studying, open to drawing conclusions from what I see, hear, and discuss... Sometimes it isn't merely listening, but feeling the players' training condition. That is all. I am calm; I am very calm right now, just as I hope the squad can remain calm as well."