José Mourinho has retracted his famous statement about Málaga CF and Manuel Pellegrini from 15 years ago. The Portuguese coach, currently in charge of Real Madrid, labelled his own comment as "very stupid" this Thursday, according to a report by Sport.es.
In 2011, Mourinho stated he would not coach Málaga CF if Real Madrid fired him. This week, ahead of the La Liga 2026-27 match between Real Madrid and Betis, the manager revisited the topic. "No iría al Málaga," he reiterated, but this time with a tone of self-criticism towards his past remark. Málaga CF, under Pellegrini's command at that time, was enjoying a golden era with a competitive squad.
What did Mourinho originally say in 2011?
The controversial statement emerged in a context of high tension. Mourinho, then Real Madrid's manager, was trying to deflect media pressure. His phrase was intended as a slight towards the Málaga CF project, which was then competing in the Champions League. However, the course of events proved the blue-and-white project right. Soon after, in 2012, Pellegrini's Málaga CF achieved a memorable 3-2 victory over Mourinho's Real Madrid at La Rosaleda. Isco, one of the gems of that team, scored a goal and would later win the Golden Boy award. Roque Santa Cruz was the other hero of the day with a brace.
How did Pellegrini react to the comments?
Manuel Pellegrini, the architect of that great Málaga CF, has always maintained an elegant stance. The Chilean engineer has described his time at Málaga as one of the best decisions of his life on multiple occasions. Regarding Mourinho, Pellegrini has publicly stated he has an excellent opinion of him as a coach. This attitude contrasts with the verbal aggression that sometimes characterised the Portuguese in his early years in Spain. The rivalry between both managers was marked by that match at La Rosaleda and by statements like the one Mourinho now regrets.
What is the current context for Málaga CF?
Today, Málaga CF looks to the future with their next league fixture being at home against Athletic Club on 29 November 2026. The club aims to build a new era and fans can follow the evolution of the Málaga 2026 squad on our site. Those years under Pellegrini remain a benchmark for what the club can achieve. Mourinho's retraction comes at a time when Spanish football remembers those battles. Meanwhile, Real Madrid prepares to face Betis this Friday at 21:00, a team Mourinho praised and which reinforced itself with Sergio Martínez from Real Racing Club.
What other details surrounded the rivalry?
The relationship between both managers had more chapters. For instance, Dani Ceballos, then a young prospect at Real Madrid, left the club after a brief conversation with Mourinho. These details paint the picture of an era of strong personalities. This week's match between Real Madrid and Betis will be played at La Cartuja, another venue for major events. For Málaga CF supporters, Mourinho's acknowledgement, albeit late, closes a circle on a comment that was a thorn for years. The next test for the Málaga players will be that late-November fixture against Athletic, a match already listed on our fixtures calendar.
