Real Madrid head coach José Mourinho has made it clear that winning trophies will be the main measure of success as he begins his return to the Spanish giants.
Speaking as the new season begins, Mourinho said there could be several ways to judge a team’s progress, including improvements in its structure and development. However, he stressed that results remain the most important factor, especially at a club with the expectations of Real Madrid.
“What would I consider a successful season? There are many ways to look at it. The only pragmatic way is by looking at results,” Mourinho said.
The Portuguese coach added that Real Madrid have several competitions to compete for during the season and must aim to challenge for honours.
“We have three competitions plus a smaller one. Finishing without trophies at Real Madrid is not a successful season,” he said.
Mourinho’s comments underline the pressure surrounding his second spell at the club. Real Madrid have turned to the experienced coach after a difficult period and will expect him to restore the winning mentality that has traditionally defined the club.
The 63-year-old manager has returned to the Santiago Bernabéu more than a decade after his first spell, which saw him win La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
His immediate challenge will be to build a team capable of competing for major honours while managing a squad containing several high-profile players, including Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham.
Mourinho has said he is confident the squad can develop a strong balance and compete at the highest level as they begin their season with a narrow 2:1 win against Espanyol last Saturday.
