Borja Mayoral, a striker who played under Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid and AS Roma, just opened up about his time with ‘The Special One,’ revealing both the good and the bad. Mourinho, who had a successful first run at Real Madrid against a powerhouse Barcelona team and is now back for his second spell, has always been a coach people talk about. Mayoral, currently playing for Real Madrid’s city rivals Getafe, shared insights into the legendary manager’s impact on his development and the moments that definitely left him feeling uneasy in the locker room.
Mourinho’s Training Sessions? ‘Very Enjoyable,’ Mayoral Says
Despite not always getting regular starts, Mayoral spoke really warmly about Mourinho’s work on the training ground. He was clear: “What I liked most, above all, was the training sessions. They were very competitive and very enjoyable. Even though my situation was not ideal, I really enjoyed training with him.” How cool is that? Even when his playing time wasn’t ideal, the guy loved the grind. Mayoral even revealed their relationship got better over time, with Mourinho giving him some serious confidence boosts before big games. He said, “As time went on, he even surprised me. Through the conversations we had and some of the things he told me before certain matches, I felt he valued my work.” Mourinho told him he “deserved to have played much earlier” on one occasion and publicly praised him in a press conference. Mayoral emphasized Mourinho’s approachable side too, noting he was “a close person” and often chatted about his Real Madrid days with Spanish players like Gonzalo Villar and Carles Perez. Mayoral, being “very curious,” jumped on the chance to ask him “many things about his time at Madrid.”
But That ‘Inability to Lose’ Caused Dressing Room Drama
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, though. Mayoral was just as candid about the parts of Jose’s coaching style he liked the least. While he gave credit for the support he received, he pointed out one specific area where he felt Mourinho definitely overstepped. He put it plainly: “What I liked least? Maybe it was that inability to lose.” That’s a strong statement right there. He went on to explain, “He made comments inside the dressing room that I didn’t like. Not only towards me, but also towards other teammates.” Mayoral clarified that he gets Mourinho’s intense competitive nature, saying, “I understand that he is a very competitive person and that in the heat of the moment we can all say things.” But for him, “respect for people should always come above everything else.”
Mayoral’s comments come across as super balanced, not really trying to stir up trouble, but they definitely paint a picture of Mourinho’s complex personality. He’s a coach who can inspire and connect, but also one whose intense desire to win can lead to uncomfortable moments behind closed doors. It just goes to show you, even the best coaches have sides their players struggle with.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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