Jose Mourinho: People Think Barca Will Thrash Us In El Clasico

Unfair to compare Real Madrid to Barcelona says Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has warned that form goes out the window in El Clasico, as his in-form Real Madrid side prepare to face a Barcelona team that the Portuguese insists cannot be compared to any other side in LaLiga.

Mourinho says comparing Real Madrid to Barcelona Is unfair ahead of clasico showdown...

Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho believes it is unfair to draw comparisons between his team and reigning champions Barcelona ahead of this weekend's Clasico.

Hansi Flick's Barcelona arrive as back-to-back LaLiga winners and remain unbeaten at the top of the table, while Mourinho only took charge at Real Madrid this summer after the club endured two seasons without silverware.

The picture has shifted slightly in the build-up to the Clasico, with Barcelona suffering their first loss of the season away to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, while Real Madrid come into the game on the back of four consecutive victories.

Los Blancos currently sit third in the LaLiga standings, six points behind Barcelona ahead of Sunday's highly anticipated clash at Camp Nou.

“I think the people that thought a week ago Barca would thrash us will keep thinking the same thing,” Mourinho told reporters on Saturday.

“I don't think just for the Paris game, or Madrid's (4-1 win against) Leipzig, they will change their way of thinking.”

Mourinho also pointed out the difference in time spent at their respective clubs, having only been in charge for a few months compared to Flick, who took over at Barcelona in 2024.

“People look at us like a finished product, but finished products in football are difficult because they are never finished... but they look at us like we're in an advanced phase of the process,” continued Mourinho.

“We've been working for three months, out of that you can take pre-season when the players were arriving (back from the World Cup), and the recent international break, then we've been together a month-and-a-half, two months...

“This is the start of a product; we're in an initial phase where the coach is learning, analysing, bit by bit defining paths, the players are learning about the coach... comparing a team in this state (to more established sides), I think is unfair.”

According to Mourinho, recent form counts for little when it comes to a fixture like the Clasico.

“We've been in a good dynamic, winning games, playing well, scoring goals, but in the Clasico it doesn't matter what you did before; it has no influence,” said Mourinho.

“The Clasico is unique; normally the football world stops to watch it. Hopefully it's a great game. And we win.”

Mourinho insisted he will not alter his game plan specifically to contain Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal.

The 19-year-old Spanish international is in outstanding form and is among the favourites to win the Ballon d'Or on Monday.

“He's a great player and great players you respect,” added Mourinho.

“One thing is respecting; another thing is to change plans, structures, forgetting your own essence. That we will not do, neither for him nor any other player of great quality we face.”

 

👔 Mourinho: "The football-loving world stops to watch this match." https://t.co/38fJNU1qr1

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) October 24, 2026

Flick Eyes Clasico Response After Champions League Setback

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick confirmed that Jules Kounde remains sidelined through injury for the Clasico, with Dani Olmo, Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen also unavailable.

The German coach said he was expecting a confident Real Madrid side and also had words of praise for his counterpart Mourinho.

“I have the highest respect. When you're managing teams on this level for so many years, and you always have success, it's about quality; he showed this at every club,” Flick told reporters.

“Every player from the (Germany) national team who worked under him speaks with great respect; I think the same. He's a colleague, a very, very successful colleague and a great colleague.“

Flick said the 4-2 defeat against PSG in Paris highlighted areas where his side still needs to get better.

🗣️ Flick: "El Clásico is different. It's the best game football has to offer, and everyone will be watching. The team is really looking forward to playing it." https://t.co/0LFfFtXBnU

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 24, 2026

“We analysed this game. We did many things really well, but we saw some situations where we have to improve,” added Flick.

“We have to grow as a team. Tomorrow we play against one of the best teams in the world, so it's a good opportunity to grow. To challenge ourselves, to improve ourselves and to grow as a team.”