Mbappé praises Mourinho for his winning mentality and ability to inspire Real Madrid as the Spanish giants prepare for their Champions League return

Kylian Mbappé has praised Real Madrid manager José Mourinho for his ability to inspire players and create a winning mentality at the Spanish club ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League opener against Inter Milan on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

Also read: Chelsea Make History Despite 2-1 Defeat to Arsenal

Speaking ahead of the European fixture, Mbappé offered a strong endorsement of Mourinho’s leadership qualities, describing the Portuguese as a manager who understands how to win and motivate those around him.

“He’s a guy who knows how to win, inspire those around him,” Mbappé said, according to Fabrizio Romano. “Mourinho motivates the whole club and his team. And wins matches.”

The comments underline the relationship that has developed between Mbappé and Mourinho since the Portuguese coach returned to Real Madrid for a second spell this summer.

Mbappé had already spoken warmly about Mourinho when he returned to pre-season training in August, saying it was positive for the squad to have a coach who understood the route to victory.

“We talked a lot during the World Cup,” Mbappé said at the time. “It is really positive to have a coach like him, someone who knows how to win and how to guide us towards victory.”

Mourinho has also been lavish in his assessment of the French forward. After Mbappé scored a hat-trick in Real Madrid’s 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad last month, Mourinho described the performance as extraordinary and highlighted the forward’s ability to create chances as well as score goals.

The praise has come during an encouraging but demanding start to Mourinho’s second tenure at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Real Madrid began the campaign strongly but suffered their first defeat under Mourinho on Friday, losing 1-0 away to Real Betis. Mbappé had a late penalty saved by Álvaro Valles as Madrid’s unbeaten start came to an end.

Mourinho has since insisted that the setback has not changed his priorities as Real Madrid prepare for their European campaign.

The Portuguese manager is now focused on the Champions League, a competition he has won twice but never managed to lift during his first spell at Madrid.

For Mbappé, the return of Mourinho represents an opportunity to combine individual ambition with a renewed push for major honours.

The France captain enjoyed a prolific first season at Real Madrid, but the club ended the 2025/26 campaign without a major trophy. Mbappé has made clear that collective success remains the ultimate objective.

That ambition is particularly relevant as Real Madrid begin their Champions League campaign against Mourinho’s former club, Inter Milan.

Mourinho’s return has brought a powerful mixture of experience, expectation and nostalgia to Madrid. His first spell ended in 2013 without the Champions League trophy that had been central to the club’s ambitions at the time.

More than a decade later, Mourinho has another opportunity to deliver European success, while Mbappé is among the principal figures expected to drive the project on the pitch.

The early signs have been encouraging, although the defeat by Betis showed that the new Madrid project still has challenges to overcome.

Also read: Chelsea Make History Despite 2-1 Defeat to Arsenal

With the Champions League now beginning, Mbappé’s public backing of Mourinho provides an important vote of confidence as Real Madrid seek to turn their renewed ambition into silverware.