Mourinho praises Aguirre and admits concern ahead of Valencia vs Real Madrid

Ahead of the La Liga matchday 12 fixture between Valencia and Real Madrid, manager José Mourinho was full of praise for his counterpart Javier Aguirre. The Portuguese coach warned that facing the Mexican manager at the Mestalla will be a difficult challenge, regardless of the current standings, with Real sitting third and Valencia struggling near the bottom of the table.

Mourinho highlighted Aguirre's pragmatic philosophy and the physical advantage of a Valencia side that has enjoyed a full week of preparation, contrasting this with a Real Madrid team that recently played in the Champions League against AEK Athens.

I consider this match one of the most difficult in the entire League. A coach like Javier Aguirre has a lot of experience and knows perfectly well the philosophy he wants. I am afraid of tomorrow's match, in quotes, against a fresh rival and a coach who is only thinking about winning. José Mourinho

Aguirre returned the sentiment, describing Mourinho as a good friend and a great coach, noting that he has always treated him with respect. The head-to-head record between the two managers favors the Portuguese, who has secured two wins, two draws, and one loss against the Mexican coach.

Regarding the upcoming tribute to the late Jesús de Miguel, Mourinho avoided weighing in on calls to suspend league activities, emphasizing that the decision on how to honor his memory should rest with his immediate family and colleagues.