‘Real Madrid’s goal is not winning the Champions League’ – Jose Mourinho plays down expectations

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has urged caution over his team’s UEFA Champions League ambitions, stressing that their immediate priority is to secure qualification before considering a possible title challenge.

According to a report by GOAL on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Madrid host RB Leipzig at the Santiago Bernabeu that evening, aiming to extend their winning start to the league phase. Los Blancos have collected six points from their opening two matches after defeating Inter Milan and Roma.

Despite the encouraging results, Mourinho has warned his players against underestimating Leipzig. The Portuguese tactician believes the German side should not be judged by their heavy loss to Bayern Munich, pointing instead to their victory over PSV and their determination to advance in the competition.

Mourinho emphasised that Leipzig remain a dangerous opponent with their own ambitions, making it essential for Madrid to approach the encounter with the right attitude and intensity.

The Spanish giants enter the fixture after winning three consecutive matches across all competitions. However, Mourinho insisted that this positive run does not guarantee another victory, arguing that his players must demonstrate their quality again rather than rely on previous performances.

The manager described Madrid’s latest display as comprehensive but maintained that consistency would be more important than celebrating recent success. He made it clear that his team must perform well and earn the result on the pitch if they are to continue their progress.

Asked whether Real Madrid should be regarded as favourites to lift the Champions League trophy, Mourinho dismissed the suggestion that it was time to discuss the ultimate prize. He explained that the club’s current objective is simply to progress beyond the league phase.

According to the manager, Madrid must first accumulate enough points to guarantee qualification before turning their attention to securing a favourable position in the standings.

Mourinho also highlighted the importance of avoiding the play-off round, which Madrid had to contest last season. He believes those additional matches create unnecessary pressure and increase the demands on players during an already congested campaign.

His preferred outcome is for Madrid to finish among the competition’s top eight teams, a position that would allow them to advance directly to the round of 16 without going through the extra knockout-style stage.

Mourinho said the team’s first target was to reach the 11-point mark he believes will be sufficient for qualification, after which they would concentrate on finishing inside the top eight.

Madrid entered Wednesday’s fixture sitting ninth in the Champions League standings with six points, making the meeting with Leipzig an important opportunity to improve their position and strengthen their chances of progressing directly to the knockout stages.

The timing of the match also presents a challenge, with a highly anticipated El Clasico against Barcelona scheduled to follow the European encounter. Mourinho will therefore need to balance the demands of both fixtures while ensuring his players remain focused on the immediate task.

For now, the Madrid manager is prioritising steady progress over ambitious predictions, insisting that qualification must come before any serious discussion about winning the Champions League.