“Don’t betray me”: Mourinho’s rule with his players

José Mourinho opened up during a special episode of “Bet It Drives” filmed in Madrid. The Portuguese coach explained why he decided to return to Real Madrid this summer and also discussed his working methods, his relationship with players and his philosophy on leadership.

After leaving Benfica, Mourinho returned to Real Madrid, a club he had previously managed between 2010 and 2013. According to the Portuguese manager, his relationship with the Spanish giants had never really disappeared despite more than a decade away from the Santiago Bernabéu.

“I came back because the club wanted me to come back, but the way they approached me also played an important role,” Mourinho explained. “I left Real Madrid in 2013, I think, and since then we have always maintained a close relationship. I left on very good terms with the club, the president and the board. So we always stayed in contact.”

Mourinho admitted that leaving Benfica was not an easy decision because he had rediscovered happiness in his home country.

“I was happy at Benfica, happy in Portugal. I had been away from my country for such a long time that when I returned to Benfica, I felt very comfortable there. But Real Madrid is still Real Madrid. Everyone at the club understood that my return represented a great opportunity.”

Total commitment from the players

Mourinho also explained what he expects from his players away from the pitch, insisting that professionalism does not stop when training ends.

“Don’t betray me. When I say ‘don’t betray me’, obviously I’m talking about football. Don’t betray me and I will always be there for you, whatever happens.”

“You are a footballer 24 hours a day. You train for two or three hours, but you are a footballer for 24 hours. Everything therefore has an influence on your work: what you eat when you are away from the club, what you drink, how you sleep, and even certain aspects of your private life.”

However, Mourinho makes a clear distinction between discipline in everyday life and freedom on the pitch. He believes talented players must sometimes be allowed to follow their instincts.

“During a match, if a player, because of his talent, creativity or intuition, breaks a rule and takes the risk of trying something different, I am exactly the same.”

“Once the match starts, I no longer think about the analysts or the assistants. I simply have an intuition and I act on it. And if the result is not what I hoped for, I don’t blame myself because I did it for the team.”

For Mourinho, trust between a manager and his players is therefore essential.

🚨💣 𝐄𝐗𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄: Florentino Perez is willing to sign a central creative midfielder after Mourinho's request, but ONLY if he is convinced by the player; if not, it will NOT happen.

Florentino prefers to WAIT until the summer to sign a new midfielder, but Mourinho insists… pic.twitter.com/F0FXL8Mswl

— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) September 26, 2026

“I don’t think it works if a player does something he doesn’t believe in. That relationship between the leader and those who represent the leader on the pitch is fundamental.”

Superstars, ego and learning from defeat

Mourinho also shared his definition of a genuine superstar, explaining that great talent must be accompanied by the right personality.

“The players I truly call superstars never have problems with their ego. Players who create problems because of their ego are not superstars for me. A superstar is the complete package, and that includes a personality where the ego is proportional to the talent.”

Finally, Mourinho stressed that he continues to learn, especially from difficult moments.

“I learn every day. I learn from difficult moments. I learn from the people I work with, especially the players.”

“To win, we have to work together. We have to play for each other and sacrifice ourselves for each other. In the end, there is always a connection between what you achieve and what you are prepared to give to achieve it.”