Jose Mourinho has returned as head coach of Real Madrid, prompting former FC Barcelona captain Carles Puyol to claim that Mourinho’s arrival could make Real Madrid a stronger opponent for the Blaugranas in the title race.
The summer brought significant movement for Real Madrid, starting with the appointment of Jose Mourinho as head coach—a decision that Carles Puyol believes will present a major test for Barcelona in the upcoming season.
During a media conference hosted by LALIGA and ESPN, Carles Puyol was asked by Martin O’Donnell of Bolavip about Mourinho’s arrival at Real Madrid and its potential impact on Barcelona.
“Well, we’re talking about a great manager,” Puyol told Bolavip about Mourinho’s arrival to Real Madrid and how can he turn things around for the club. “I met him at Barcelona when I was young and coming through the academy, and when I made it to the first team, we could already see that he knew a lot about football.
“Then he went to other clubs, built a good résumé, and eventually arrived at Real Madrid, where Real Madrid had a very good team. We were going through a very strong period, and I remember a great rivalry and many individual battles. The Barça-Madrid rivalry is huge, but in those years, on top of that, it was Guardiola against Mourinho, Messi against Cristiano, and two great, great teams.
“So we’ll see how he does now. I still think Barcelona have a very good team and will be able to have a good season, but it’s clear that one of their biggest rivals is Real Madrid, and with Mourinho they could be even stronger.”
Carles Puyol ante mi pregunta sobre el regreso de José Mourinho al RealMadrid: “Estamos hablando de un gran entrenador. Lo conocí en el Barcelona cuando yo era joven, estaba en la cantera, subí al primer equipo y ya veíamos que sabía mucho de fútbol”.(Sigue)👇 pic.twitter.com/mTOvF2uCIX— Martín O’Donnell (@martinodonnell_) August 18, 2026
Steve McManaman puts extra pressure on Mourinho
Former Real Madrid winger Steve McManaman also participated in the conference. The Englishman, who made over 150 appearances for Los Blancos, weighed in on Mourinho’s return, highlighting the immediate pressure on the coach and squad to deliver trophies.
“He needs to win,” McManaman responded to Bolavip about the expectations on Mourinho. “It’s simple as that. He needs to beat Barcelona, he needs to win the league. I don’t necessarily think he needs to win the Champions League, but he needs to finish above Barcelona.
“He’s been brought in because the last two years have been disappointing. So he needs just to get the best out of the players, but more importantly, it’s to finish above Barcelona. He has to do it instantly. Real Madrid can’t go three years without winning anything. So Jose has to hit the ground running and he has to be successful straight away. That’s what he’s been brought in for.”
McManaman emphasized the high expectations associated with managing Real Madrid, recognized as one of the most demanding seats in world soccer. However, key summer acquisitions—including record signing Yan Diomandé—have fueled belief that Mourinho’s second tenure can meet those expectations.