José Mourinho pronounced himself satisfied with his Real Madrid side's progress after a 1-0 pre-season win over newly promoted Deportivo de A Coruña in the Teresa Herrera Trophy at Riazor on Wednesday night.
Brahim Díaz settled the contest in first-half stoppage time, chesting down a long throw from goalkeeper Andriy Lunin before slotting past the Deportivo keeper at his near post. It was enough to secure Real Madrid's tenth title in the historic tournament.
Mourinho, back in Spain for the first time since he was sacked by Real Madrid in 2013, used the game to spread minutes rather than chase a heavy scoreline. "I must make my substitutions and give everyone an opportunity. I don't want to give too many minutes to those players," he said, according to ONE.
He described the opposition as no pushover despite their lower division status until this season: "This was a serious match against a team returning to La Liga. This cup has a long tradition and they did everything. They wanted their cup, and such competition is very good training for us."
Asked about his squad's overall shape three weeks out from the new season, Mourinho was upbeat. "There are many positive things, the team is improving," he said, adding that five players remained absent from training but that he was pleased with their gradual reintegration as the level of opposition has risen through the summer.
Wednesday's match was the 81st edition of the Teresa Herrera Trophy, one of Spanish football's oldest pre-season fixtures, and Real Madrid's first appearance in it since 2013 — Mourinho's last season in charge of the club before his exit that summer.
Vinicius Júnior started and captained the side, his first appearance since signing a new six-year contract at the Santiago Bernabéu, underlining his status as a senior figure in the dressing room under the new coach.
The result kept Real Madrid unbeaten through pre-season, with two wins and a draw so far under Mourinho, who returned to the club in June on a three-year deal after leaving Fenerbahçe.
One more warm-up match remains, against Schalke on Sunday, before Mourinho's competitive bow as Real Madrid host Espanyol in the LaLiga opener on August 22.
