Story by Emil Martesen
Jose Mourinho did not spend a minute on the Real Madrid bench during the 2026 World Cup. According to Kylian Mbappe, he was already at work anyway.
Sitting down for his first pre-season interview with the club’s in-house channel, published on 14 August, Mbappe volunteered that his relationship with the incoming coach had begun long before either of them arrived for the new season.
“We have talked a lot during the World Cup and these days here,” he told Real Madrid TV.
“It’s very positive to have a coach like that, who knows how to win, who knows how to give the direction of how to go to win.”
A month between the appointment and day one
Real Madrid announced Mourinho on 11 June, the same day the World Cup opened in North America. The Portuguese signed a three-year deal through 30 June 2029, with the club paying €15m to prise him out of Benfica.
He was not due to begin work at Valdebebas until 13 July, the start of pre-season.
That gap of a little over a month is the window Mbappe is describing. While France pushed deep into the tournament and Mourinho stayed away from public appearances, the two were in regular contact, before the coach had walked into the training ground for the first time as its head.
Ten goals, no team trophy
France went out in the semi-final to eventual champions Spain and then lost the third-place playoff 6-4 to England, a fourth-place finish that stung a squad that had expected to challenge for the trophy.
His individual tournament was different again. Ten goals gave him the Golden Boot, and his career total of 22 across three World Cups now makes him the competition’s all-time leading scorer.
“We didn’t win a team trophy. It hurts, and it will continue to hurt for a while; I won’t lie to you about that,” he said after the third-place defeat.
Mbappe already on message
By the time the interview was recorded, the France captain had reset.
“I think we have to win, that this year we are going to win titles. I’m sure we’re going to win titles again.”
He called it “a dream” to be at the club and returned to the same theme.
“At Real Madrid you have to win titles, win things and that’s why I’m here.”
Mourinho took his first pre-season session at Valdebebas on 13 July, with Mbappe having already been in regular contact with his new coach during the World Cup.
