José Mourinho has urged La Liga to spare Real Madrid another demanding sequence of fixtures after a convincing 3-0 victory against Valencia. According to ESPN on Sunday, November 8, 2026, the coach criticised the congested schedule following an eighth successive win, while discussing his record, player fatigue and the approaching international break.

The result extended Madrid’s strong run, although Mourinho stressed that maintaining it depends on keeping his squad fit.

The victory came as Mourinho was informed that he had become the manager with the highest win percentage in La Liga history. Across his two spells at Real Madrid, he has recorded 97 victories in 126 league matches, placing him above every other coach in the competition.

The statistic reflects his successful periods in Spain, but he refused to celebrate while another fixture awaits.

Nevertheless, the Portuguese manager played down the milestone, explaining that his attention was already on securing another victory. “It tells me we have to win the next one,” he said, while expressing pride at being associated with a league that has featured many successful managers.

He praised his players’ defensive organisation and collective commitment, crediting those qualities for the team’s recent progress. Mourinho highlighted an incident against Valencia when Kylian Mbappé tracked back to cover an exposed area after Arda Güler lost possession. He considered the recovery evidence of the responsibility players are showing towards one another.

Mbappé’s recovery showed attacking players accepting responsibilities beyond their usual roles.

For Mourinho, such moments demonstrate Madrid’s improvement through individual quality and greater unity. He believes the squad is responding positively, with players increasingly prepared to contribute defensively as well as in attack.

The match at Mestalla also featured a controversial red-card incident involving Valencia’s José Gayà and Mbappé. Mourinho praised the referee’s overall performance while admitting uncertainty about some decisions.

His strongest remarks concerned the fixture calendar. Madrid had travelled to Athens, Santander and Valencia during a busy stretch, with matches and journeys packed into a period running from Sunday to Saturday. Mourinho called on La Liga president Javier Tebas and the organisers to avoid imposing a similar schedule again.

“Leave us alone after this marathon of travelling and matches, from Sunday to Saturday. It has been too much,” he said.

The busy calendar has left little room between matches, making recovery essential before international commitments.

He warned that several players were exhausted as they prepared to join their national teams. He urged international coaches to consider their condition and manage their recovery carefully during the break, and avoid further unnecessary physical demands on them.

Mourinho also revealed that he was unwell, with a fever of 40°C. He might miss an NFL event if his condition did not improve.

Despite those concerns, Madrid’s latest victory extends their winning run. Mourinho’s immediate priority is to give his players time to recover before they return from international duty. He will want them fit for the next challenge and hopes to maintain their momentum without placing unnecessary strain on the squad.