'They are NOT READY TO WIN' - Craig Burley 😳 Is Mourinho the solution? | ESPN FC

0:01 Hello, welcome in to the latest edition of ESPN FC.

0:03 Kay Murray, Craig Burley,

0:05 Shaka Hislop here in the studio over in Barcelona ahead of El Clasico.

0:09 We've got Luis Garcia and Alejandro Moreno and coming to us from Madrid,

0:13 our Spanish football correspondent and Madrid correspondent, Alex Kirkland.

0:17 Do we very much welcome

0:19 capital of Madrid, it seems.

0:21 Don't you start today.

0:22 No, no, no, no.

0:23 I'm staying out of it.

0:24 Don't you throw a left hook at me or a left jab.

0:26 So, that's one of the topics.

0:27 There's another one today because we've heard of Jose Mourinho's

0:30 name being linked with a return to Real Madrid, Alex,

0:33 but it does seem to be that he is emerging

0:35 as a serious contender right now and those reports have got stronger today.

0:39 Is this going to happen?

0:44 Yeah, multiple reports today, as you say, Kay,

0:46 that there has been direct contact with Mourinho, with his agent, Jorge Mendes.

0:50 The Mourinho's even been informed about what's been going on behind

0:53 the scenes around Madrid in terms of that dressing room bust-up this week.

0:57 We had said he's one of the names that's being discussed,

1:00 a name that was on the the short list.

1:01 It does feel like it's becoming more of a reality now.

1:05 And I've got to say I've just a a bizarre, you know,

1:08 mad week here in Madrid in terms of what's going on in that dressing room.

1:12 I don't know about you, you kind of get to the point where you think, "Oh,

1:14 may maybe Jose is the answer." As as as as as as wild

1:18 as it sounded when his name was first linked because,

1:20 look, he has been kind of, you know,

1:22 in the relative wilderness as a coach for the last sort of decade or so.

1:25 Hasn't been winning things.

1:26 Hasn't been a top line manager.

1:29 Given the mess that there is to sort out here at the Bernabeu,

1:33 you know, like I say, you're going to get to a point where you feel like, "Well,

1:35 yeah, may maybe this is the the way forward." We don't know.

1:38 We can't report here at ESPN that this is kind

1:40 of a a done deal yet that he is the guy,

1:43 but certainly no question right now, given what we're hearing,

1:45 it looks like he is the the best placed candidate to take charge this summer.

1:49 What do you think of these links, Craig?

1:52 Well, it's not exactly progressive, is it?

1:55 Do you think it's what they need

1:56 at the moment though with what's going on there?

1:58 Well, I don't know because, you know, Mourinho's not going to you know,

2:01 he he likes to butt heads as well,

2:03 excuse the pun, with all that's going on, but he

2:06 he does like to to butt heads with players.

2:09 And look, he could go in and is he as calm a man manager as Carlo Ancelotti?

2:17 No.

2:19 No, he's much more robustious.

2:21 He's much more confrontational.

2:24 And you know, if the likes of Vinícius Júnior and others are not pulling

2:28 their weight or they're not working hard

2:30 enough or results are not going their way,

2:32 there's not going to be enough buses for everybody to get thrown under.

2:35 So, you know, José Mourinho at one point, Porto, Chelsea, Real Madrid,

2:40 Inter, was arguably at that point the best manager on the planet.

2:46 He walked into Chelsea, he said, "I'm the special one." And he was at the time.

2:50 He was, and he did some great things, but as Alec mentioned,

2:54 Alex mentioned the last um 10 years,

2:56 I don't know how many years, he has been in the wilderness.

2:58 He hasn't had that Midas touch.

3:00 He hasn't been able to get the same out of certain players,

3:03 albeit he's managed teams at a slightly lower level when you think about,

3:08 you know, his time in in in Turkey, his time in England,

3:12 when he went to Tottenham, there's been other jobs.

3:15 Uh so, it's not the same Mourinho that's walking

3:17 back in who walked into Real Madrid the last time.

3:20 So, I can't answer this question.

3:22 It it If all of a sudden José Mourinho

3:24 is this marvelously calming influence in the dressing room,

3:28 which he hasn't really been for quite some time.

3:31 So, I think Alex word for the week in Madrid is correct, bizarre.

3:36 And this falls into that category a little bit.

3:39 I I have to say, you asked me this 2 weeks ago, it makes absolutely no sense.

3:43 But, to to Alex's point, um well, kind of given José Mourinho being out

3:48 in the wilderness as as the term that's being used,

3:51 um though having a decent season, undefeated season with with Benfica.

3:55 And then given what you saw in the tie

3:57 between Real Madrid and Benfica in the Champions

3:59 League earlier this season with Prestiani and Vinicius

4:02 Junior and how poorly Jose Mourinho handled that.

4:05 It it seemed even more a far a far shot in in in that regard.

4:12 But everything you've seen this week,

4:14 it just screams that it needs a disciplinarian.

4:16 And while Craig mentions Carlo Ancelotti,

4:18 you look at managers who may be able to come in and turn

4:22 turn things around in in in just in this dressing room.

4:25 Managers who may be available, Carlo Ancelotti is not one.

4:29 The only name that kind of makes sense

4:31 from a disciplinarian point of view is Jose Mourinho.

4:35 Maybe not from a footballing or results perspective,

4:38 but for what is clearly an unraveling dressing room,

4:41 Jose Mourinho ticks the most boxes for me.

4:44 just before we go to the boys who are not already patiently, just quickly.

4:47 You're not going to solve this by continually changing the manager.

4:50 It's the players and Luis Enrique and PSG are a great example of the big egos,

4:56 the big stars left, Neymar, Mbappe, Messi.

5:01 They were replaced by very good players who worked hard and they were hungry.

5:04 And and that was the difference.

5:06 I think Florentino Florentino Perez has to realize it may

5:09 have to be some of the players he has to replace

5:12 uh because it seems to me he has no idea

5:15 of what way what path he wants to go down.

5:18 You know, he went down the channel of Xabi Alonso who was very progressive,

5:21 but the the the dressing room uh revolted in that.

5:28 And so it seems honestly seems that Florentino Perez is

5:32 lost in the direction he wants to take this football club.

5:36 Whereas at Barcelona,

5:37 they have a manager in Hansi Flick who's been

5:39 very progressive and they're going to win the league again.

5:42 There's a big game this weekend, but they're a very entertaining team.

5:46 And he and he does have discipline as well.

5:48 So, you can have both.

5:50 Uh but I I I just I just don't

5:52 see how hiring Jose Mourinho just to sort of solve

5:55 a few issues within the dressing room is going

5:58 to make Real Madrid better on the field again.

6:01 What are the thoughts from you guys out in Barcelona?

6:03 Let me start with you, Luis.

6:07 Uh actually listen to to the guys.

6:08 I think it's um uh Shaka made a fantastic point.

6:11 I mean, having someone who knows the club and he

6:13 can bring a little bit of discipline and address

6:16 the situation that the Real Madrid has been having

6:18 for I don't think that it's only a year.

6:20 It's It's been for for quite a long period.

6:22 I think it could be something that he Mourinho can help.

6:25 He's got a background that people will respect, players will respect.

6:29 Uh he's got that discipline side that I think is

6:31 very important to implement right now at Real Madrid after not

6:35 only the issue that we've seen with the with the with the latest

6:38 um uh situations uh on the dressing room,

6:41 but apart from that, the way of this Real Madrid,

6:43 how they've been understanding on trying to use the the message

6:47 that they they will receive from Xabi Alonso from Arbeloa,

6:49 and the lack of probably um the respect that they had

6:52 in between them during the past few months that we saw.

6:55 Not only the the discipline into the pitch, but also outside of the pitch.

6:59 So, I think that bringing in a manager like him,

7:01 uh it could help on that side, that situation,

7:03 and also because of that history of knowing the club,

7:06 the history of being one of the best manager in the past.

7:09 I understand what the guys is talking about.

7:11 The future, yes, too,

7:12 that is maybe not going to change the whole situation, the structure,

7:16 and the it bringing 10 players because

7:18 he understands the situation of the club is

7:20 that um economically or financially is not

7:23 the the best situation for Real Madrid at the moment.

7:25 So, bringing a manager who can understand

7:27 that, he can help to rebuild the situation.

7:30 But definitely, if you look around,

7:32 there is not many managers who can bring that discipline back,

7:35 that respect earned from the players.

7:39 Um so, so far, um Ali,

7:41 it was it's not that that bad that we thought maybe a couple of weeks ago.

7:45 Well, let me just tell you this, Luis.

7:47 You have made a terrible terrible, and I mean terrible mistake in listening

7:52 to Shaka Hislop when it comes to Jose Mourinho.

7:55 See, you don't know this.

7:57 You don't know this, but when Shaka interviewed Jose Mourinho a few years back,

8:01 he melted during the interview.

8:04 He melted.

8:05 He was so starstruck.

8:07 So, if you ask Shaka Hislop about Jose Mourinho,

8:09 he's always going to tell you Yeah, that's the right call, Real Madrid.

8:13 Good job, Florentino Perez.

8:14 a good point.

8:16 [laughter] By whom?

8:16 By Shaka?

8:17 No, he's a good point.

8:18 It doesn't matter if it's Shaka who is saying it.

8:20 He's a good point bringing someone who can bring the discipline.

8:22 No, well, I'll look, I'll For me, this is going to be a spectacular car crash.

8:28 It is.

8:29 Now, it's going to be fun.

8:31 It's going to be interesting given the history

8:33 and what we know of Jose Mourinho.

8:35 Jose Mourinho by himself,

8:36 he's an interesting personality and an interesting interesting character.

8:40 And he's going to give this a whole lot of space.

8:43 But this is not a locker room that is currently

8:46 set up to succeed in the long term under Jose Mourinho.

8:50 So, this may be a short-term solution to just

8:52 kind of keep things together for a little while,

8:55 but if this club is to take their position

8:58 among the elite clubs in the world on the field,

9:01 they're going to have to make more changes than just the manager,

9:04 and they're going to have to look into the future as to what

9:07 this club is going to look like under a different manager than Jose Mourinho.

9:10 So, once again, let me just reiterate, Luis,

9:13 when it comes to Jose Mourinho, do not listen to Shaka Hislop.

9:18 Well, it's not Well, it's not just Ali Jose Mourinho.

9:20 Just it's a Real Madrid There's a Real Madrid

9:23 thing here because when Gareth Bale came into the studio,

9:27 former Real Madrid player, a few months ago,

9:30 I I wasn't actually there at the time.

9:31 I was I think God I was cuz I needed a sick bag, I was told.

9:34 He fawned over him.

9:36 He followed him around the studio and he went, "Gareth!

9:39 Gareth, can I have photos?

9:42 [laughter] What's wrong with you, man?

9:43 We We have some football to discuss here.

9:45 No, you know what?

9:45 What you Just want to say quickly.

9:47 What [laughter] What What What did What did To be fair,

9:50 me Ali and I are not the sort of fonding over people kind of type, you know?

9:54 So, if you want to do that, Shaka, that's that's your own business.

9:57 What did Real Madrid fans be And I get this.

9:59 Listen, I agree with Ali.

10:00 I think it would be for people that cover La Liga like us, it will be fun.

10:05 It will never probably be dull because

10:07 Mourinho's in town and sparks normally fly.

10:10 And that's I get that.

10:11 I think for us it would be great and the TV

10:13 and the cameras and everything You know, all that stuff.

10:17 Uh but even if there's some sort of short-term solution,

10:21 what did Real Madrid fans What are

10:24 the two things they bemoaned this season the most?

10:28 A, results, which are ultimately the most important thing, but B,

10:33 they bemoaned and they booed and they whistled about performance.

10:38 Right?

10:40 Do you think a Jose Mourinho appointment

10:43 is going to do anything for performance?

10:46 For entertainment?

10:48 It's going to go the other way.

10:50 So, that puts even more pressure on results because we know

10:54 the type of football that Mourinho wants to play or tries to play,

10:59 particularly these days.

11:00 Uh So, that's For that reason, I'm I'm like, yeah, for us, great.

11:04 I'll sit here and watch the the fireworks and the sparks go off.

11:07 That's fine.

11:09 But if you're a Real Madrid fan and you want

11:11 to see something better on the field as well as results,

11:14 is this going to bring it?

11:16 I think history would tell you no.

11:19 It's not the way he plays the game.

11:22 But back when he was at the club,

11:24 they were playing an exciting brand of I'll be his brand of football.

11:27 Of course, he had the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema back then.

11:31 But the fans, if they're winning Well he went to Inter Milan and he won

11:34 the Champions League with a big win against Barcelona.

11:36 Madrid need to go back to basics though

11:38 to actually just start getting the results to begin with?

11:40 need to figure out the bad apples

11:42 in the dressing room and eventually get them out.

11:45 If you don't want to be working hard and pulling your weight and agreeing to do

11:52 what a coach wants you to do that you're not going to be at the football club.

11:56 Listen to what Ousmane Dembélé,

11:57 the Ballon d'Or winner from last year said in the last

12:00 couple of weeks ahead of their uh momentous victory over Bayern Munich.

12:06 "It's crystal clear." he said, "Under this manager,

12:08 Luis Enrique, that if you don't run,

12:10 you're out the team." That's very simplistic,

12:14 but it's very easy to understand as a player.

12:17 If I don't work hard enough I'm not in this team.

12:20 There will be consequences.

12:22 A lot of Real Madrid players don't understand that sort of connotation.

12:27 They don't.

12:28 It's what That's not It's we do sort of run.

12:32 We run when we want to run.

12:33 And I'm not Not everybody, but you know,

12:35 some of the big ones, we run when we want to run.

12:37 We press when we want to press.

12:39 And that's not how the best teams operate these days.

12:43 It's not.

12:44 It's not how Liverpool were successful.

12:45 It's not how PSG are successful.

12:47 It's not how Bayern have had a great

12:49 season in terms of domestically up until PSG.

12:51 They work together.

12:52 All these teams work together.

12:54 Real Madrid uh clearly do not.

12:57 When we talk about the players,

12:59 obviously a big talk and it was mentioned earlier is the Vini Jr.

13:01 situation, Alex here.

13:03 And what would happen if Mourinho was to come,

13:06 especially after what happened with Presciutti in that game

13:09 against Benfica when I'll remind you that Mourinho said afterwards,

13:12 "There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium.

13:15 Every stadium where Vini plays, something happens always."

13:23 Yeah, and look, we thought that the way that Mourinho handled that situation

13:26 was a a huge roadblock in terms of any possible return to the club.

13:29 It looks like the club at least don't think that's the case.

13:32 What we don't know is how Vini Jr.

13:35 might feel about it.

13:35 Remember the context is that Vinicius Jr.'s

13:37 contract is running out at Real Madrid.

13:39 It's up in 2027 and we've been told consistently

13:42 that contract talks have been stalled for a long time now

13:44 that his camp don't expect any movement at least until after

13:47 the World Cup when he'd have a year left on his contract.

13:50 And is he going to be willing to extend if

13:52 the coach is Jose Mourinho who said the things that he did.

13:55 Really, really quite an attack.

13:57 A remarkably an attack on Vinicius Jr.

14:00 after he had been abused in that game.

14:02 So, yeah, I think it's it's a major issue,

14:04 but clearly it looks like the club at the very top of the club,

14:08 they don't think that that is like I say

14:11 that is a something that prohibits a move for Jose Mourinho.

14:14 Whether that means the club thinks that you know,

14:16 potentially a move for Vini is in the the offing,

14:19 whether they think that it's something that can be smoothed

14:21 over over and and talked through somehow, I don't know.

14:24 But that is I think yet another issue in what

14:26 is already a complicated matter which is that contract renewal.

14:30 Okay.