Real Madrid manager, Jose Mourinho, has opened up on the mentality issues within the squad, which ultimately contributed to his departure from the Santiago Bernabeu in 2013, three years after his arrival.
The Portuguese coach joined Real Madrid following a treble victory with Inter Milan in 2010 and spent three seasons at the Bernabeu.
Despite failing to secure the UEFA Champions League, Mourinho achieved a remarkable La Liga title in 2012, breaking Barcelona’s three-year dominance in the league.
However, not everything was harmonious behind the scenes at the Bernabeu, as reports of player discontent and unrest surfaced.
Reflecting on this, Mourinho, who has returned for a second term this summer after a 13-year hiatus, shared his insights on Netflix regarding then Madrid captain, Iker Casillas.
He stated, “The first thing he told me was, ‘I’ve come to ask for more vacation time for the national team players.
“In the second conversation, he requested that I postpone training by an hour due to heavy traffic in Madrid at the time I intended to commence the session.
“In the third, he mentioned that the players preferred not to go to the hotel and instead wanted to meet on matchday and head directly to the stadium. Mentally, they were in a very poor state.”
Mourinho also addressed the rumors of unrest in the dressing room, saying, “I believe the players had grown weary of me as a leader, and I felt the same towards them. I was frustrated with them, not just the other way around. I was fed up with the players and the media. I wanted to leave. I sensed that my time was up.”
Following his departure from the Bernabeu, Mourinho has managed clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester United and AS Roma before making his return to his former club.