Jose Mourinho concerned by Real Madrid's three-week international break

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has expressed significant concern regarding the new three-week international break. The Portuguese coach highlighted the challenge of managing his squad during such an extended period away from the club.

"The international break does concern me. It's a lot of time," Mourinho said ahead of Sunday's La Liga match against Malaga. He noted that he is particularly troubled by players who join their national teams but fail to secure regular game time, rather than those who are active participants.

The international break does concern me. It's a lot of time. Players who join the national teams and are not really involved that concern me. Jose Mourinho

The 2026-27 season calendar has been adjusted, replacing the traditional October break with a three-week window in late September and early October where nations will play four fixtures. This change was necessitated by the late conclusion of the 2026 World Cup in July.

Mourinho emphasized that the club is actively managing the workloads of stars like Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, and Marc Cucurella to mitigate injury risks. Beyond the schedule, Mourinho also shared his thoughts on the Ballon d'Or, arguing that the award should recognize lasting impact rather than just tournament wins, suggesting that winning major competitions like the Champions League shouldn't automatically crown a player the favorite.