Jose Mourinho has addressed a wide range of issues ahead of Real Madrid\u2019s La Liga<\/a> meeting with Real Betis, with the manager offering a firm defence of Raul Asencio\u2019s professionalism while making clear that the defender\u2019s conduct away from football cannot simply be ignored.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mourinho also explained Dani Ceballos\u2019 departure, discussed new signing Sergio Martinez and offered his assessment of the Julian Alvarez situation at Atletico Madrid.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Portuguese coach was speaking before Real Madrid\u2019s fourth league game of the 2026\/27 season, with a difficult trip to Betis awaiting his side.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n On the challenge facing his team, Mourinho issued a blunt warning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThey will need to put in a top performance. Otherwise, they won\u2019t win. Betis are a very good side, given Real Madrid\u2019s recent results there.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIt\u2019s difficult to win there. And to do so, you have to be at your very best. There\u2019s no other way.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Asencio was inevitably one of the major talking points after his recent conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Asencio has received Mourinho\u2019s backing. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mourinho revealed that he had spoken to the defender when he first arrived at Madrid but has not continued discussing his off-field problems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI spoke to him when I arrived. I did so because of things that had happened in the past.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cSince I arrived, I haven\u2019t spoken to him any more. I no longer discuss matters outside Valdebebas. Because inside, he\u2019s a true professional.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWhen he was fit, nobody trained harder or better than him. Now that he\u2019s injured, he\u2019s the first to arrive and the last to leave. Extreme dedication.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cBut a Real Madrid<\/a> player is one 24 hours a day. What you do outside can damage your reputation and that of the club.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI\u2019m not happy. But never mind, we all make mistakes. But when they pile up, it\u2019s a different matter.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mourinho also refused to speculate on Asencio\u2019s immediate sporting future while Real Madrid\u2019s internal investigation remains ongoing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe club has launched an investigation and, as his manager, whilst that investigation is ongoing, I regard him as a Real Madrid<\/a> player.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cHe will remain so for a few more weeks. This helps me to stay out of the problem you\u2019ve mentioned. He\u2019s a Real Madrid<\/a> player.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The manager also explained how Ceballos\u2019 exit was agreed<\/a> after telling the midfielder he was not part of his plans.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWe spoke on the phone for three minutes; I told him I wasn\u2019t counting on him.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cAnd although players often cling to their contracts, in this case he understood the situation and said he\u2019d prefer to become a free agent and decide his own future.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWe reached an agreement, terminated his contract, and Ceballos was free to decide for himself.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Sergio Martinez will be on the bench against Real Betis. (Photo courtesy: Real Madrid<\/a> official website)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mourinho confirmed that Sergio Mart\u00ednez will be included in the squad against Betis after only a few days of training<\/a> with the first team.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll be on the bench tomorrow. And from that you can already see, more or less, what the plan is.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cHe\u2019s only trained with the first team for a few days, but the club has signed him because we\u2019ve analysed him and seen that he\u2019s a lad with potential.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cTomorrow he\u2019ll be there, along with Mario Rivas and Jorge Cestero, and we\u2019ll see if he plays. But it\u2019s already a step forward.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Real Madrid<\/a> boss was also asked about Lionel Messi\u2019s retirement from international football<\/a> and spoke with obvious admiration for the Argentine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThere are no words that can describe his quality as a player.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cHe\u2019s one of those players you\u2019re going to miss. We\u2019ll have to watch a few MLS matches \u2013 which isn\u2019t really my cup of tea \u2013 to make the most of these final years.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cHe\u2019s one of those players who, as I said in a previous press conference, you\u2019ll always miss. And he\u2019s one of the greats of our generation.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n On the ongoing Alvarez-Barcelona situation, Mourinho was reluctant to get involved but offered his own view on how players should approach unsettled situations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThat situation\u2026 no one knows it better than Simeone. And I don\u2019t see him having absolutely anything to say about it.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWhat I usually say is that when a player isn\u2019t happy, by 1 September he\u2019d better be happy or he won\u2019t play.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cMy feeling is that from yesterday onwards, and at least until the end of the season, he\u2019ll be an important player for his club.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mourinho also expects Atletico Madrid to compete for the title, alongside Barcelona, Real Madrid<\/a> and the leading Champions League contenders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI reckon Atleti will be in the mix too, and even if they don\u2019t say so publicly, they\u2019ll feel they can do it.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mourinho is not ruling out Atletico Madrid from La Liga<\/a> title race. (Photo by David Ramos\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cFor me, they\u2019re contenders as well. Then there are the teams in the Champions League places \u2013 Betis, Real\u2026 they\u2019re strong sides. And tomorrow we\u2019ll see just how strong Betis are.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The manager would not reveal whether he intends to rotate his midfield with the Champions League in mind.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWe will talk about that after the match. But until then, let me be optimistic and happy. We\u2019ll focus on Betis and put this whole business behind us.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mourinho also confirmed that he has spoken to former Real Madrid<\/a> manager Alvaro Arbeloa, although not for information about his current squad.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cNot with Xabi Alonso. I have spoken to Alvaro Arbeloa, though. But it wasn\u2019t because of him \u2013 I\u2019d already got the information myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not easy for a former manager to talk about your previous situation. But it wasn\u2019t because of him.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Lastly, the Portuguese was asked about his opinion on Luka Modric, who has said glowing words about the manager<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Discussing his transfer from Tottenham, Mourinho concluded, \u201cReal Madrid were almost at the point of saying \u2018it\u2019s impossible\u2019, but the player wanted it.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cBecause he could play as a six, an eight or a ten. He was the ideal man. You lot drove me mad for a few months (he smiles). But then\u2026 it all fell into place.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\nMourinho delivers strong message on Raul Asencio<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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