‘Don’t betray me’ — Mourinho warns Real Madrid players

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By Adegboyega Adeleye

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José Mourinho has warned his Real Madrid players that trust is non-negotiable, as he emphasised the importance of trust between players and coach in his bid to build a new winning team for the Spanish side.

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Mourinho, who returned to the Santiago Bernabéu this summer 13 years after his first spell in charge, made the remarks while discussing his managerial philosophy and stating the “non-negotiable” rules for his squad to follow.

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“When I say don’t betray me, of course, I’m speaking about football. Don’t betray me, and I’ll always be there for you,” Mourinho told the Bet It Drives Show, as reported by ESPN.

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The veteran manager, known for his strict approach, also outlined the rules he expects his players to follow, insisting that even the club’s biggest stars must be disciplined.

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“There are rules that are not negotiable,” Mourinho said.

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“If you report at 9 a.m., it’s 9 a.m. for everybody. If you arrive at 9.15, even if you’re a superstar, you just can’t. I don’t accept it … But another thing is giving them freedom to express themselves.”

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Mourinho said being a professional footballer extends beyond what happens on the pitch, stressing that players must make sacrifices if they want to reach the highest level.

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“You are a football player 24 hours a day,” he said. “Everything reflects the job. What you eat, what you drink, how you sleep, even things in your private life. You cannot ski. You cannot ride a bike.”

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“You fall off your bike, and you don’t play three matches maybe, or maybe worse, maybe you break a leg … There are a lot of things that you have to give up to be a football player.

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“If you feel it’s a hobby, you’re dead. There’s always a relationship between what you achieve and what you give up.”

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Mourinho also revealed that Real Madrid approached him to return after a difficult period for the club, with the Spanish giants seeking to rebuild following two seasons without a major trophy.

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“After two seasons where the biggest club in the world didn’t have the best results and a little ‘divorce’ with the fans, the club contacted me,” he said.

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“They told me, ‘We know you. You know us. You know the club, you know the culture.

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“We need you. We need you to rebuild. We need you to start again an amazing decade that the club had. We need a person with your profile.’”

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The Portuguese coach has endured a difficult start to his second spell at Madrid, with the club six points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona and having suffered a derby defeat by rivals Atletico.

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