Mourinho hails Real Madrid grit before Atletico derby clash

Jose Mourinho, coach of Real Madrid, emphasized the physical and mental fortitude of his team prior to their upcoming La Liga derby match against Atletico Madrid. As of now, Barcelona is leading the table by three points, having won all six of their matches with 28 goals scored. In contrast, Real Madrid has won five games and lost one, but have struggled to maintain a consistent performance.

The Spanish champions narrowly avoided defeat against Real Betis, where a late penalty miss by Kylian Mbappe denied them a winning goal. Mourinho acknowledged the team's challenges but also highlighted their resilience and commitment, stating that these qualities have been evident in recent matches where they needed a last-minute effort to secure a draw or win.

The Madrid coach is confident in his team's unity and believes that, despite the obstacles, the league is a marathon, not a straight path. Atletico Madrid's coach, Diego Simeone, confirmed that striker Julian Alvarez will be part of the squad after recovering from a muscle issue. Simeone respects Mourinho, having faced him during Mourinho's first tenure at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013. Simeone expressed his hope for a competitive match, reminiscent of their previous encounters.