Mourinho: It's too early to say Real Madrid are title contenders, and this is Vinicius' situation

Portuguese manager José Mourinho spoke about Real Madrid's preparations for their match against RB Leipzig, scheduled to take place on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, as part of the third round of the group stage in the UEFA Champions League.

The coach said: "RB Leipzig is a great team. We have won three matches in a short period, and our last victory saw an extremely good performance. We delivered a complete match in every aspect, and we must continue to work this way."

Regarding the possibility of instructing his players on how to speak to the referee and request reviews of refereeing situations, Real Madrid's manager said: "Tomorrow we have a referee who does not accept jokes. He is a referee of very high quality, and I am very happy to have a referee of this quality in an important match. He is a referee who does not need VAR to manage the game."

Regarding Real Madrid's chances of winning the UEFA Champions League, Mourinho explained: "It's still too early to talk about that. Our current goal is to qualify, and then the next goal will be to avoid the playoff. I have a feeling that we will need to gather a large number of points to achieve that. First, we need to reach 11 or 12 points, which are the points that guarantee us qualification, and then gather the points that allow us to finish the league stage in the top eight positions."

José Mourinho discussed the professionalism displayed by some Real Madrid players, stating: "I spent the night here. But the number of hours you spend at the club does not necessarily mean you are working. I like this to be said in a positive context, but it is also true. Jude Bellingham has a culture of focusing on recovery and taking care of himself in the finest details, while Diomande always comes in during the afternoon to work with the physiotherapist. The most important thing is having a complete working system. No one stays here alone, and it is not just about the players; it also includes the coaching staff, as none of my assistants do not participate in this dynamic."

Regarding the possibility of losing his place in the starting lineup, the Portuguese manager said: "The only thing that cannot be touched is the club's badge. I do not like the concept of a player who cannot be excluded. What makes a player untouchable in his position is what he delivers on the pitch."

The coach reflected on his satisfaction with the current situation of the team, stating: "We still have a lot ahead of us. We have only been here for three or four months, and it is impossible for us to have already reached the level we want. We must always continue to improve, both individually and collectively. I understand that the club's ambitions and expectations are at their highest. I have spent three years here, and I know well the nature of this club and its requirements. I know there is a lot of work to be done."

Regarding the best positions that Arda Güler and Federico Valverde can occupy, Mourinho said: "The best place for them is on the pitch. They are different players, but both have the ability to adapt to multiple positions. Every match is different, and the nature of each team varies; we played in the last match with a different midfield. I try to choose the best possible lineup to serve the team. There are different times and circumstances, and I try to do things the right way. Sometimes I am right, and sometimes I am not."

Regarding the possibility of Kylian Mbappé and Espir starting together, Mourinho explained: "It's difficult. They could both play together in a 4-4-2 formation, but with the wingers we have, the system would practically turn into a 4-2-4, and I don't think we can win relying on this tactical setup."

He added: "There is another matter regarding the timing of making changes, as happened in AS Roma. When the opposing team is exhausted, unable to pass the ball twice in a row, and their focus shifts more towards destruction than construction, we can rely on such tactical plans in those moments."

Regarding his opinion on the consideration that Spanish referees are the best in the world, Mourinho said: "For me, my players are the best in the world, but for Fran Soto, his referees are the best in the world."

He said: "Your current experience at Real Madrid? I can't talk about surprises or say whether things have been better or worse than I expected. I expected to find what I have actually found. I didn't come here thinking that I would stay for 100 days or three years, but I try to give my best every day."

Vinicius Junior is set to play on the left wing tomorrow. As for Jan Duymandy, it is still unclear whether he will participate tomorrow or not, and you can imagine the situation from that.