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Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho has said he is puzzled by Inter's failure to win the Champions League in recent years, while also taking a dig at the match scheduling. The Special One is getting his side ready to host his former club at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday in their opening league-phase match of the Champions League, as Madrid look to respond after a domestic defeat.

Mourinho questions scheduling and praises Inter consistency

Mourinho again hinted that outside influences could be affecting Real Madrid's fixture calendar, though his immediate attention is on a very familiar opponent. The Portuguese coach managed Inter from 2008 to 2010 and led them to a historic treble in 2010, a run that included the Nerazzurri's third and latest Champions League title, before they went on to lose finals in both 2023 and 2025.

Even with his irritation over the schedule, the 'Special One' had strong words of praise for the tactical continuity at his former club. Looking back at their development since his treble-winning season in 2010, he pointed to the stability within the Italian side while confirming that Arda Guler, Bernardo Silva and Eduardo Camavinga will all miss the game through suspension. 'Inter have been a great team for six years. From (Antonio) Conte to (Simone) Inzaghi and (Cristian) Chivu, the game model is the same. It's a team that can play with its eyes closed. The only surprise in recent years is that he has never won the Champions League. Tomorrow we will have three suspended players, but on the pitch it will always be 11 against 11. Maybe the person who made the fixture list was Italian.'

Addressing rumours and player relationships

The build-up to the fixture also included questions about Mourinho's relationship with current Inter figures, especially Chivu. The Romanian played under Mourinho during their time together at the Stadio Meazza before moving into management and leading Inter to a domestic league and cup double last season. There had been rumours of a fallout between the two, but Mourinho moved quickly to dismiss that talk in his pre-match press conference and defended the bond he still shares with his former defender.

'He's been my player; we've worked together,' Mourinho said when asked about their relationship. 'We went through so much together, good and bad. Who did you talk to to find out if I have a bad relationship with him? With whom?'

Bouncing back from domestic disappointment

Real Madrid go into this European contest after a setback in La Liga, having lost away to Real Betis. Mourinho wants his side to show the cutting edge that was missing during their trip to Sevilla. 'I want to win [tomorrow]. I can tell you that I want to play well, but I don't want to play well as we did against Real Betis and then lose.'

The manager is fully aware of the pressure that comes with leading Europe's most successful club. Real Madrid, who have won a record 15 Champions League titles and most recently lifted the trophy in the 2023-24 season, then suffered quarter-final exits against Arsenal and Bayern Munich in the next two campaigns. 'We are in a phase where we'll play eight games, and the goal is to qualify [for the next phase]. I want to focus on this single game,' Mourinho added.

Locker room reaction and Champions League goals

Mourinho also gave an insight into the mood in the dressing room after their first defeat of the campaign against Real Betis, a result that ended a three-match winning start to the La Liga season. Back for a second spell after his first stint from 2010 to 2013, and tasked with bringing trophies back after the club ended last season without silverware, the Portuguese coach said he was satisfied with how his squad responded straight away. 'I saw them the way I wanted to see them, dead in the dressing room in Sevilla, and then ready for the training session on Sunday,' he said.

While admitting there have been some technical shortcomings in recent displays, Mourinho remains confident that his team can compete at the top level. 'We are convinced we had a good game. The goals we missed are not customary. We have well-known problems, but this is it. We'll play to compete. I'm the Real Madrid coach, and we have a very important Champions League game tomorrow. I think we will both qualify, and it is possible to be in both in the future. Every point is important. Inter come here to seek points.'