Mourinho Admits He Has Changed Since Returning to Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho has admitted that returning to Real Madrid for the first time in 13 years was an emotional experience, although the Portuguese manager insists he has changed significantly since his first spell at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Mourinho has made an impressive start to his second tenure in the Spanish capital. Real Madrid have won both of their opening La Liga fixtures under the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Inter Milan boss, beating Espanyol before producing another emphatic result against Real Sociedad.

The latest victory came on Thursday morning as Madrid secured a commanding 4-1 win away from home. Kylian Mbappe was the star of the night, scoring a hat-trick to lead Los Blancos to another three points.

Mourinho was asked about his emotions after returning to a club he last managed more than a decade ago. While he acknowledged the significance of the occasion, the 63-year-old made it clear that winning remains his ultimate priority.

“Coming back here is a beautiful and extraordinary moment. But winning is much more enjoyable. Over the years, I have changed and become much calmer. But there is always adrenaline during matches,” Mourinho said, as quoted by Goal International.

The Portuguese manager was also asked to assess Real Madrid’s performance against Sociedad, particularly Mbappe’s outstanding display.

Mourinho praised the France international for his individual contribution but insisted that the victory was the result of a strong collective performance. The Madrid boss also highlighted the work of his two centre-backs, who he felt played a major role in controlling the game.

“Our two centre-backs were very dominant. The team played well. However, we cannot ignore the fact that we have some of the best players in the world, and that makes me happy. They are players of the highest level,” Mourinho explained.

Mbappe’s hat-trick further underlined his importance to Mourinho’s project at Madrid. The France captain has already established himself as one of the side’s most dangerous attacking weapons, and his goalscoring form could prove crucial as Los Blancos pursue domestic and European honours.

For Mourinho, however, the early victories represent more than simply impressive results. They also suggest that his return to Madrid is beginning to produce the kind of impact expected from one of the most decorated managers in modern football.