Former Real Madrid captain Nacho believes “beautiful things are coming” under Jose Mourinho.
Madrid have not won a major trophy for two seasons and suffered a miserable 2025/26 campaign that started with high hopes under Xabi Alonso but ended in acrimony and in-fighting with Alvaro Arbeloa at the helm.
Mourinho was brought back to restore the good times and also bring harmony to a fractured dressing room. And Nacho, who captained the club to their 15th Champions League title in 2024 under Carlo Ancelotti, is confident the Portuguese will get the players onside and inspire an uptick in fortunes.
In an interview with AS, the Al Qadsiah defender said: “What I am clear about – and I don’t know if in the end titles will be won because this is football and it is not easy – he will have the players motivated, he will have them 100%.
“The intensity that he puts into every training session and every game, I have seen, I can assure you that they are 100%. So, if the players and Mourinho manage to all be together, I have no doubt that good things will come for Real Madrid.
“Mou is from Real Madrid, he is a Madrid man. That’s the important thing, he knows perfectly what it is to win and what it is to lose at this club. If the players are with him to the death, beautiful things are coming for Real Madrid.”
New Real Madrid boss Mourinho is a ‘special person’
Nacho worked with Mourinho during his first spell at the Santiago Bernabeu and made his debut under the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss in a chaotic 6-3 win at Valencia in 2011.
“Mourinho is a special person for me and my family,” added Nacho, 36. “He is a coach who marked my career, the one who gave me the opportunity. As a result of that match in Mestalla, many more matches came with the first team. Mou will always be special to me. Regardless of whether he is a great coach, and he is for me and for my whole family, he is THE coach, so to speak.
“I remember that stage as one of the best of my life.”
Nacho backs Cucurella to succeed at Real Madrid
One of Mourinho’s first signings this summer was that of Spain full-back Marc Cucurella, who had a brilliant World Cup as La Roja lifted the crown.
Nacho believes the Catalonian’s fighting spirit will benefit the capital club.
“He is intense, always wanting to fight for his team,” he said. “He brings together the perfect characteristics to play for Real Madrid. Also, he is a player that is needed right now, in which this intensity is required.”
