Mourinho’s tactics earn praise after Real Madrid’s El Clasico victory over Barcelona

Josep Pedrerol has praised Jose Mourinho for outmanoeuvring Hansi Flick as Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 in El Clasico at Camp Nou.

The Spanish presenter of El Chiringuito said Mourinho’s tactical decisions disrupted Barcelona’s plans and allowed Real Madrid to secure an important victory. He described the performance as evidence that the Portuguese coach still has the ability to manage major matches at the highest level.

Pedrerol said many people had concluded that Mourinho was a coach from the past and believed appointing him had been a mistake. Some had also expected him to struggle against Barcelona, but Pedrerol felt he answered those doubts with a strong display and delivered a coaching lesson in how to approach a high-profile fixture.

Mourinho’s most notable decision came in midfield. Rather than relying solely on physical strength, he selected Bernardo Silva and Arda Guler alongside Aurelien Tchouameni, with Jude Bellingham also involved in the midfield set-up.

That combination gave Real Madrid greater ability to compete with Barcelona in possession and in the construction of attacks. Pedrerol also noted that Pedri and Rodri failed to perform at the level expected of them.

According to Pedrerol, Mourinho had recognised during recent matches that his team needed a better balance between physical resilience and technical quality. That adjustment was reflected in Real Madrid’s performance at Camp Nou and could become an important option for the Portuguese in future fixtures after proving effective against Barcelona.

Pedrerol said the tactical advantage was not the only explanation for Real Madrid’s success. Discipline and teamwork were also central to the result, with the players showing a clear commitment both defensively and in attack while maintaining a high level of effort throughout the match.

He added that Real Madrid had produced the performance their supporters had been waiting for. In his view, matches against the strongest opponents demand courage, organisation and fighting spirit, all of which were visible during El Clasico.

The listed La Liga fixtures include Barcelona against Deportivo Alaves on 31 October 2026. Racing Santander are scheduled to face Real Madrid in La Liga on 01 November 2026.