The non-negotiable standard Jose Mourinho demands from his Real Madrid squad

Share on XShare on RedditCopy ArticleAdd us as a preferred sourceAtletico de Madrid v Real Madrid – LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 | NurPhoto/GettyImagesReal Madrid manager Jose Mourinho really revealed his one strict guideline about his players at the club in a recent press conference. Mourinho went on a long rant about Kylian Mbappé: whether he has been fully committed to Real Madrid and whether fans have been too harsh, or not harsh enough, on the player. He gave a long rant defending Mbappé at the press conference, but he also said something important.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho really revealed his one strict guideline about his players at the club in a recent press conference. Mourinho went on a long rant about Kylian Mbappé: whether he has been fully committed to Real Madrid and whether fans have been too harsh, or not harsh enough, on the player. He gave a long rant defending Mbappé at the press conference, but he also said something important.

He wants them to act like Real Madrid players on and off the pitch, and he also said that, with regard to that, he has seen no problem with any of his players. He said, "For me, a player is a player 24 hours a day. Anything important or negative he does privately always has repercussions. I always maintain that a player will always be a human being, a man who can make mistakes but who has a sense of responsibility.

He wants them to act like Real Madrid players on and off the pitch, and he also said that, with regard to that, he has seen no problem with any of his players. He said, "For me, a player is a player 24 hours a day. Anything important or negative he does privately always has repercussions. I always maintain that a player will always be a human being, a man who can make mistakes but who has a sense of responsibility.

“I promise that if a Real Madrid player doesn't behave like a Real Madrid player and fails as a Real Madrid player, if he does not fulfil his obligations as a player or as a citizen, you will not see him on the pitch. You will not be able to boo him. He will be at home. I won't give him the opportunity to sit on the bench."

“I promise that if a Real Madrid player doesn't behave like a Real Madrid player and fails as a Real Madrid player, if he does not fulfil his obligations as a player or as a citizen, you will not see him on the pitch. You will not be able to boo him. He will be at home. I won't give him the opportunity to sit on the bench."

He then went on to talk about how Mbappe hasn't failed in any of his obligations to Real Madrid and that he will play the match against Villarreal on Saturday. Whatever he said about a player being in the public eye for 24 hours a day is actually very accurate because it indirectly or subconsciously refers to the entire case of Raul Asencio and his drunk driving.

He then went on to talk about how Mbappe hasn't failed in any of his obligations to Real Madrid and that he will play the match against Villarreal on Saturday. Whatever he said about a player being in the public eye for 24 hours a day is actually very accurate because it indirectly or subconsciously refers to the entire case of Raul Asencio and his drunk driving.

If a player is making mistakes off the pitch and it gets into the limelight, he has to take responsibility for his actions. Those actions would obviously have repercussions because of the stature of the club, but Mourinho probably applies that to every single club he goes to. That is the way it should be as well, because it hurts the player as well as the club if they make a mistake that does irreversible damage off the pitch.

If a player is making mistakes off the pitch and it gets into the limelight, he has to take responsibility for his actions. Those actions would obviously have repercussions because of the stature of the club, but Mourinho probably applies that to every single club he goes to. That is the way it should be as well, because it hurts the player as well as the club if they make a mistake that does irreversible damage off the pitch.

If you talk about on the pitch, yes, they can make mistakes, but those are limited to just football. Beyond that is a choice of the human being, more than the choice of a player. With that, these players have to be professionals even when they're not doing what they are getting paid for.

If you talk about on the pitch, yes, they can make mistakes, but those are limited to just football. Beyond that is a choice of the human being, more than the choice of a player. With that, these players have to be professionals even when they're not doing what they are getting paid for.

Mourinho discussed a lot of cases surrounding Real Madrid players, but the point stands that he would always want his players to be professionals on and off the pitch. That is one non-negotiable that he will never let go of. If something ever happens to these players or because of these players, Mourinho makes sure that there will be repercussions for them, and that is the way it always should be.

Mourinho discussed a lot of cases surrounding Real Madrid players, but the point stands that he would always want his players to be professionals on and off the pitch. That is one non-negotiable that he will never let go of. If something ever happens to these players or because of these players, Mourinho makes sure that there will be repercussions for them, and that is the way it always should be.

Loading recommendations… Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations