Jose Mourinho said before Real Madrid's LaLiga Clasico against Barcelona that it is unfair to compare his side with Barca and that Sunday's match will not be a litmus test for his team. Real Madrid are third in LaLiga before the Clasico.
Mourinho's view before the Clasico
Mourinho told reporters on Saturday: "I think the people that thought a week ago Barca would thrash us will keep thinking the same thing."
He also said: "The Clasico is unique; normally the football world stops to watch it. Hopefully it's a great game. And we win."
Mourinho said Real Madrid have been working for three months and are in an initial or preliminary phase rather than a finished product.
Form and expectations
Mourinho told reporters on Saturday: "We've been in a good dynamic, winning games, playing well, scoring goals, but in the Clasico it doesn't matter what you did before; it has no influence."
When asked if he feels he deserves more credit, Mourinho said: "I don’t look for anything more than credit for my players when they do well and criticism for their coach when we don’t do so well."
Mourinho told reporters on Saturday: "People look at us like a finished product, but finished products in football are difficult because they are never finished... but they look at us like we're in an advanced phase of the process."
Lamine Yamal
Mourinho said he would not change his plans to try and stop Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal.
Mourinho told reporters on Saturday: "He's a great player and great players you respect."
Team news before the match
Real Madrid beat Leipzig 4-1 on Wednesday. Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the season at Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Jules Kounde was still out injured for the game, along with Dani Olmo, Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen.
Flick said: "I have the highest respect. When you're managing teams on this level for so many years, and you always have success, it's about quality; he showed this at every club."