Mourinho Saves His Job at Real Madrid with Mbappé's Brace in El Clásico

José Mourinho has temporarily silenced speculation about his future at Real Madrid by winning El Clásico on Sunday evening at Camp Nou. Real Madrid won 2-1 thanks to a brace from Kylian Mbappé, moving to within three points of Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

Ahead of the match, the Spanish press reported that president Florentino Perez, dissatisfied with Real Madrid’s start to the season, had identified Didier Deschamps as a potential successor to the Portuguese coach. Journalist Emmanuel Galasso from Sud Radio had even claimed that a defeat in El Clásico could have cost Mourinho his job. “Florentino Perez is already preparing for life after José Mourinho and he has chosen Mourinho’s successor, it will be Didier Deschamps,” he had stated, noting that this scenario was “the most likely outcome in case of defeat.”

The victory has therefore, at least temporarily, put an end to this speculation. Mourinho made no attempt to hide his relief after Mbappé’s decisive goal in the 87th minute: the Portuguese coach left his technical area to slide on his knees across the pitch, before sticking his tongue out in the direction of the Barcelona bench and its supporters. A celebration that perfectly summed up the pressure surrounding this match.