Mourinho Praises Javier Aguirre ahead of Valencia vs Real Madrid, Digi Mart USA News: Ahead of the Matchday 12 LaLiga 2026-27 clash between Valencia and Real Madrid, Portuguese coach José Mourinho heaped praise on Javier Aguirre, warning of the difficulty of facing the Mexican coach at Mestalla despite the gap in the standings. Real Madrid sit third with 27 points, while Valencia are second-to-last with nine.
In a press conference, Mourinho highlighted the pragmatism of ‘Vasco’ and pointed to the physical advantage of a Valencia side that had the whole week to prepare for the match, unlike Madrid, who played Champions League football against AEK Athens.
“I consider this one of the most difficult matches in the whole league. A coach like Javier Aguirre, with a lot of experience, who knows exactly the philosophy he wants.
I’m afraid of tomorrow’s match, afraid in quotation marks, against a fresh opponent and a coach who is only thinking about winning.”
Aguirre returned the compliment: “He is a very good friend and a good coach, and I only have words of gratitude for him. He has always been a gentleman with me and deserves all my respect.”
Aguirre has four wins, seven draws and 16 defeats in 27 matches against Real Madrid, including two wins with Osasuna, one with Zaragoza against Mourinho in 2011, and one with Mallorca in 2023. In direct duels against the Portuguese coach, the head-to-head record favors Mourinho with two wins, two draws and one defeat.
Finally, regarding the death of Jesús de Miguel, Mourinho declined to comment on whether the matchday should be suspended and asked for respect for those close to him ahead of the tributes scheduled for the ninth minute across Spanish football: “Only his family and colleagues can say what he would have wanted to happen.”
