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Real Madrid head coach José Mourinho has dismissed the notion that Sunday's high-stakes clash with Barcelona will define his squad, boldly declaring: "Real Madrid wins titles with Mourinho."
Madrid currently sit third in La Liga after nine matches of Mourinho's second stint in charge. Atlético Madrid head into the weekend just one point ahead, while Barcelona lead the table a further five points clear at the top. Results have been inconsistent, and there are real concerns that Los Blancos could fall out of title contention should Hansi Flick's side claim victory on Sunday.
Mourinho was challenged with the suggestion that Sunday's Clásico would serve as a true indicator of where his team stands, but the Madrid manager showed no interest in that framing, instead setting his ambitions far higher.
"It isn't [a litmus test]," Mourinho told reporters. "Real Madrid wins titles with Mourinho."
For that bold statement to hold up, Madrid will need to find a way past Barcelona this weekend. The defending champions could open up a nine-point gap after just 10 games if they continue their flawless run. Barça finished last season eight points clear of Madrid.
Mourinho: Lack of Credit No Surprise
On paper, the vast majority of clubs worldwide would happily take Madrid's start to the campaign. Mourinho has guided the side to 10 victories and two defeats across his first 12 matches back at the helm, while maintaining a perfect record in the Champions League through three rounds of the league phase.
Yet the atmosphere surrounding Madrid fails to reflect those numbers.
In reality, a string of uninspiring displays and uncertainty over the roles of several high-profile players have prompted widespread doubt over whether this version of Madrid can meet the lofty expectations at the Bernabéu, with Mourinho's own standing also coming under the microscope.
"I get the sense that's simply the nature of Real Madrid," Mourinho said when questioned about whether he feels he deserves greater recognition. "I'm not looking for anything beyond credit for my players when they perform well and criticism directed at their coach when we fall short.
"That's the reality for every manager. Some games are won by the players and others are lost by the coaches — that's just how it goes. There are at least two Clásicos every season. What matters most is the bigger picture. There are other important fixtures, but this one is truly one of a kind. The whole world stops to watch it."
Mourinho also argued that Madrid have suffered from being unfairly compared to a Barcelona side that has had considerably more time to develop as a unit.
"The fact that people speak highly of Barça doesn't bother me," he said. "Honestly, there are games where they clearly deserve the praise because they produce some genuinely impressive football.
"In our case, we're treated as a finished product. Finished products in football are hard to define. If you're talking about us being at an advanced stage of development, we've only been working together for three months. Take away preseason and the international breaks... and we've had about a month and a half.
"Far from being a finished product, we're very much a work in progress, still in an early phase where the coach is getting to know the players, studying them and building strategies. The players are also still getting to know me. Comparing a team like ours with one that has been together much longer simply doesn't seem fair."