Mourinho returns to the Bernabéu and defends Mbappé in a conciliatory debut

José Mourinho broke his silence in his first interview after resuming command of Real Madrid and used the moment to shield from recent criticism. The Portuguese, back at the Santiago Bernabéu after the re-election of Florentino Pérez as president of the club, adopted a more moderate tone than in his first spell with the Merengue team. Instead of fueling controversy, Mourinho defended the French striker against accusations about his defensive contribution and behavior off the field, classifying the criticism as "external noise".