Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho emphasized a cautious, step-by-step approach as his team prepares to host RB Leipzig in their upcoming Champions League match. Speaking ahead of the fixture, Mourinho stressed the importance of focusing on the immediate objective of progressing to the next stage of the tournament rather than aiming directly for the title.

Following a high-scoring 4-3 victory at Roma and a commanding 4-1 La Liga win over Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid have maintained a strong start to their European campaign. However, Mourinho reiterated that the team’s current priority remains securing qualification from the group, rather than chasing the championship outright.

“Real Madrid’s goal right now isn’t to win the Champions League, it is to qualify for the next phase,” Mourinho said. He outlined a phased approach to their goals, indicating that after attaining sufficient points to advance, the focus would shift toward avoiding the play-off round and eventually targeting the trophy itself.

Despite recent positive results, including a standout performance by Kylian Mbappe who scored twice against Sevilla, Mourinho acknowledged that the team is still developing. Having returned to the club this summer after a 13-year absence, the Portuguese coach highlighted the ongoing need for collective improvement.

“We are still far from where we want to be. We have only been here for three months. It’s impossible to be where we want to be,” Mourinho explained. He also pointed to the importance of tactical flexibility, stating that he avoids a rigid coaching philosophy and remains open to adapting strategies based on analysis and experience.

Mourinho further called on players to maintain competitiveness within the squad, rejecting the idea of untouchable status based on reputation or past achievements. “The only thing untouchable is the badge. I don’t like this concept of an untouchable player,” he said. According to Mourinho, a player’s value should be judged on their current performances rather than their status or transfer fees.

On the upcoming opponent, Mourinho warned against underestimating RB Leipzig, despite their recent heavy 6-1 Bundesliga loss to Bayern Munich. Leipzig have recovered from an initial 4-1 defeat to Como in the group stage with a win over PSV Eindhoven and remain determined to qualify for the knockout rounds.

“Leipzig isn’t the team that lost badly in Munich, but rather the team that beat PSV, has three points and wants to qualify,” Mourinho remarked.

Real Madrid enter the match buoyed by three consecutive wins but Mourinho urged caution, noting that past success does not guarantee future results. “We won three games in a short time and we won the last one playing very well. We have to keep going—just because you win three doesn’t mean you will win the fourth.”