Former Real Madrid and Liverpool striker Fernando Morientes believes Jose Mourinho is the right man to rebuild Real Madrid, despite admitting Barcelona remain clear favourites to retain the LaLiga title.
Mourinho returned to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer after Real endured another disappointing campaign, finishing well behind their fierce rivals and ending the season without a major trophy.
Morientes feels the size of the gap between the two clubs shows Real Madrid face a huge challenge, but believes Mourinho’s experience makes him the ideal appointment.
“Can Jose Mourinho lead Real Madrid to the title this season? Right now, well, you have to weigh reality against what’s happened before,” Morientes told Reviant.
“And the reality says the favourites are Barça, because they’ve won, because Madrid haven’t been at that level, and because there’s been a big points gap between them.
“When the gap is small, one point, then fine, it comes down to small details. But when there’s that much distance, something else is going on. It isn’t just football, Madrid have let themselves down at the key moments.”
Fernando Morientes backs Jose Mourinho to rebuild Real Madrid
Morientes believes Mourinho was brought back because of his previous success competing against Barcelona and expects the Portuguese coach to reshape the squad.
“I think that’s why the club has gone for Mourinho, because he’s a manager who’s competed well against Barça at their best and either turned that around or matched them,” he said.
“So I think that’s what they’re after with this appointment: having a serious, sober leader in the dressing room who commands respect from the start, and then lays the foundations for what Madrid can be in the future on the pitch.”
He also suggested Mourinho’s previous spell at the club could benefit him this time around.
“I’ve never been a fan of second chances for coaches, but in this case I think he’ll also have learned from past mistakes, and turned those mistakes into something positive…what we did in the past didn’t work, let’s do it differently. And I think that can be a good idea.”
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Mourinho has become more mature
Morientes also believes Mourinho has changed since his first spell in Madrid.
“I see him now much more mature, calmer, more reflective, and I think that can even be good for a dressing room that has to start from zero right now,” he said.
He added that Real’s recent struggles should help Mourinho keep his squad grounded.
“You tell them, look, you’ve gone two years without winning a single thing, and that ego hits the floor.
“If you don’t prove it at Madrid, then obviously you’re not good enough to be there.”
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