Mourinho press conference
Jose Mourinho didn’t hold back his satisfaction with his team’s performance during Wednesday’s post-match press conference.
Mourinho: "The goals will come; I am very optimistic"
The match:
We played well. We pressured a lot and in a very advanced position. We didn’t allow Ajax to play, and they are used to controlling the ball on an open pitch. The team’s physical and mental strength increases by playing. They need time to adapt to the new playing method. They need time to adapt because we play with a lot of intensity.
Style:
It isn’t easy playing the way we do; we are focused for 90 minutes and are ambitious. Tomorrow we will have a recovery workout, we will train on Friday before traveling to San Sebastian and then we will recover again for Espanyol. That is why I draw all my conclusions from matches. We can improve little by little. I need time, but I am very optimistic.
Less work for Casillas:
I would be worried had we only had two shots on goal or if Casillas was our player of the match. For many years Casillas was the best Real Madrid player. In the last three matches he has barely touched the ball. Perhaps my forwards weren’t so successful on goal because they pressured so much. We lost some efficiency on goal, but we gained a lot in the sense that we completely dominated the match.
Alonso press conference
Xabi Alonso will face Real Sociedad, the team where he began his career, on Saturday.
"There will be three points at stake against Real Sociedad, so we will be opponents for 90 minutes"
Sociedad:
There will be three points at stake against Real Sociedad, so we will be opponents for 90 minutes, although I’ve always been and always will be a Real Sociedad supporter. It’s always nice to go back home. They’ve always greeted me well over there.
Key players:
Ozil is a very good footballer. He has good timing, works from the back and has great vision. His work on the team is fantastic and I believe he may become an important player in the future. Cristiano Ronaldo is not anxious. He just wants to help the team and I’m sure he will score again. Karim Benzema is a quality striker. He may be introverted, but his devotion to the team is solid.
Mourinho:
Mourinho isn’t a defensive coach. His Chelsea was demolishing. We want to win our games with authority and to become a competitive team. I hope we keep up the tendency we showcased yesterday. The coach focuses on small details when he analyses our opponents and every player he has ever coached speaks highly of him. Everything he says in the press has been previously said to us.
Just another Madridista
Junta speak