Jose Mourinho has discussed the internal squad challenges that led to his exit from Real Madrid in 2013. The Portuguese manager spent three seasons at the club after arriving from Inter Milan in 2010. During his tenure, he famously led the team to a La Liga title in 2012, interrupting Barcelona’s period of dominance.
Despite his success, tensions grew within the locker room. Speaking on a Netflix production, Mourinho recounted several interactions with then-captain Iker Casillas that illustrated a lack of focus. Mourinho noted that Casillas requested extra vacation time, delayed practice sessions due to traffic, and asked to bypass the team hotel before matches. Mourinho remarked that these requests reflected a poor mental state among the players.
Ultimately, the coach felt a mutual exhaustion between himself and his squad. Mourinho admitted he had grown tired of the players and the constant media scrutiny, leading him to conclude that his time at the Bernabeu had concluded. Following his departure, he coached at Chelsea, Manchester United, and AS Roma before returning to the Spanish capital this year.
