Jose Mourinho believes Real Madrid need three seasons to reach their best in his new spell. VnExpress reports his assessment from a 3 November press conference in Athens, where he described the team as still under construction.
Potential and previous achievements
Mourinho declined a direct comparison with the squad he coached from 2010 to 2013. He said both teams had potential, while distinguishing his earlier side's trophies from the work beginning in the current tenure.
His first spell produced the 2011/12 La Liga title, the 2010/11 Copa del Rey and the 2012 Spanish Super Cup, alongside three consecutive Champions League semi-finals.
The current squad includes Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham. At the press conference, Real had won six successive matches, a sequence beginning with the 4-3 recovery against Roma on 14 October after trailing 3-1.
Daily work over a single turning point
Mourinho acknowledged the emotional effect of that comeback but did not view one result as the sole turning point in the team's play. He emphasised training, matches and a growing understanding between coach and players.
Sai Gon Giai Phong also relays his wish to focus on collecting league-phase points before discussing later rounds. He treated the prospect of winning the Champions League with a third club, after Porto and Inter Milan, as hypothetical.
His message for the next stage centres on continued work and accumulated experience, rather than treating a winning sequence as proof that the team is complete.