Maradona: "Mourinho will bring a Champions League to Real Madrid in no time"

After attending Real Madrid’s final training session prior to Saturday’s match against Athletic, Diego Armando Maradona sat down with Realmadrid.com to discuss matters concerning the club.
What are your thoughts on Mourinho’s coaching methods?Sensational. He lets his players have fun, but he is also the best at instilling discipline and fielding a team. There is great camaraderie, which is due to Mourinho. From the outside looking in we see that Real Madrid is comprised of many great people, but we don’t get to sense the great atmosphere that exists. Mourinho deserves the credit.
What did the players you talked with tell you? How did you find the team?It looked good to me. I spent time with Ronaldo, Pipa, Di Maria, Garay and Ramos. I even got to talk to Casillas. There is a great atmosphere. The session was full of good vibes and everyone wanted to participate. That is the healthy competition created by Mourinho. Real Madrid fans are relaxed, and I remember when they weren’t. Before they were focused on the names of the players and if the team was good enough. Now fans go to the stadium with peace of mind.
What are your thoughts on Mourinho?He is among the top two or three coaches in the world along with Pep. They have both had incredible careers. Mourinho and I are friends since I went to visit him in Italy. We spent close to three hours talking. He explained a lot to me about players and his methods. He respects football players. Sometimes we get it wrong. Coaches shouldn’t always be liked by the press or fans. We must primarily be liked by our players. If a coach has a good relationship with his players, he will then have a good relationship with the crowd, the media and the whole world.
Is all bad press he has been getting justified?I don’t think he is affected by it. He is above it all. It’s not about name-calling. Mourinho wins everything and he does what he thinks is best for Real Madrid. And he does so with an incredible personality. He deserves a lot of credit. Whoever understands this sport knows that coaching a team isn’t easy, especially with players such as these. More cannot be asked of him.
Do you think Real Madrid will win the Champions League this year?Mourinho needs time so that the players understand one another. It’s what happened when he was at Inter and the team went on to win its first European Cup in more than 50 years. If people are patient, I am convinced Mourinho will bring a Champions League to Real Madrid in no time.
How does the team look heading into the Clasico?I don’t think so much has ever been at stake. Barcelona are playing well and Mourinho’s team is solid. This match will break the deadlock. It will show just how reliable Mourinho and Barcelona’s football are. Whoever plays with more attitude will win.