As Real Madrid prepares for their La Liga encounter with Real Betis, manager Jose Mourinho has taken the opportunity to discuss various topics surrounding the team, including the professionalism of defender Raul Asencio, the departure of Dani Ceballos, and the potential impact of new signing Sergio Martinez.
Mourinho's comments come as Real Madrid heads into their fourth league fixture of the 2026/27 season, facing a challenging away match against a strong Betis side. The Portuguese coach emphasized the need for his players to deliver an exceptional performance to secure a victory, acknowledging the difficulties of winning at Betis' home ground.
“They will need to put in a top performance. Otherwise, they won’t win. Betis are a very good side, given Real Madrid’s recent results there,” Mourinho stated. He further elaborated that the team must be at their best to overcome the challenge posed by Betis.
One of the focal points of Mourinho's press conference was Raul Asencio, who has recently faced scrutiny following his conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol. Mourinho expressed his support for Asencio, highlighting the defender's work ethic and professionalism on the training ground. He noted that while he had previously spoken to Asencio about his off-field issues, he has since chosen to focus on the player's contributions within the club.
“When he was fit, nobody trained harder or better than him. Now that he’s injured, he’s the first to arrive and the last to leave. Extreme dedication,” Mourinho remarked. However, he also stressed the importance of maintaining a positive reputation as a Real Madrid player both on and off the pitch.
Regarding Dani Ceballos, Mourinho revealed that the midfielder's exit was a mutual decision after he informed Ceballos that he was not part of his plans moving forward. Ceballos opted to terminate his contract to pursue opportunities as a free agent, a decision that Mourinho respected.
Mourinho also confirmed that new signing Sergio Martinez would be included in the squad for the match against Betis, despite having only trained with the first team for a few days. “He’ll be on the bench tomorrow. And from that you can already see, more or less, what the plan is,” Mourinho said, indicating that the club sees potential in the young player.
In addition to discussing his own players, Mourinho offered his thoughts on Lionel Messi's recent retirement from international football, praising the Argentine as one of the greatest players of all time. “There are no words that can describe his quality as a player. He’s one of those players you’re going to miss,” he said, acknowledging the impact Messi has had on the sport.
Mourinho also touched upon the ongoing situation regarding Julian Alvarez at Atletico Madrid, emphasizing that such matters are best handled internally by the respective clubs. He expressed his belief that players should be content with their situations by the end of the transfer window to ensure they remain effective contributors to their teams.
As the La Liga title race heats up, Mourinho expects Atletico Madrid to be in contention alongside Barcelona and Real Madrid, noting the strength of teams like Betis in the mix. He concluded by stating that the focus remains on the upcoming match, with discussions about potential squad rotation for Champions League fixtures to be addressed later.
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