Borja Mayoral has looked back on his time working under José Mourinho with mixed emotions. While the Spanish striker remembers many positive moments with the Portuguese coach, he also admits there were aspects of Mourinho’s personality that left a lasting negative impression. Speaking in an interview with Marca, the current Getafe forward reflected on his experience at AS Roma, where he played under Mourinho during the early years of the Portuguese manager’s spell in the Italian capital. Although Mayoral praised Mourinho’s methods and leadership in several areas, he did not hide his disappointment with the coach’s reaction whenever the team suffered a defeat.
The former Real Madrid academy graduate began by highlighting what he admired most about Mourinho. According to Mayoral, training sessions under the Portuguese manager were among the best experiences of his career. Even during periods when he was not receiving regular playing time, he remained motivated because of the quality and intensity of the daily work. He explained that Mourinho’s sessions were extremely competitive, energetic, and enjoyable, creating an atmosphere where every player wanted to give their maximum effort. Despite his difficult sporting situation, Mayoral said he genuinely looked forward to every training session because of the environment Mourinho created.
Mayoral also revealed that his relationship with Mourinho improved significantly over time. Although opportunities on the pitch were limited, the Portuguese coach gradually showed him confidence through private conversations and encouraging messages before important matches. Those discussions convinced the striker that Mourinho appreciated both his professionalism and his commitment. One particular conversation stayed with him. Mourinho reportedly told him that he deserved to have played much earlier than he actually did. The coach also defended and praised Mayoral publicly during press conferences, something the Spanish forward says he has never forgotten. Those gestures made him feel respected, even when he was not a regular starter.
Beyond football, Mayoral described Mourinho as someone who maintained a close relationship with his players. The coach frequently spoke with the Spanish members of the squad, including Gonzalo Villar and Carles Pérez, about his memorable years at Real Madrid.
Having come through Madrid’s academy himself, Mayoral was fascinated by those stories. Curious by nature, he often took the opportunity to ask Mourinho about his experiences at the Santiago Bernabéu, his biggest successes, and the personalities he had managed during one of the most successful periods of his coaching career. Those conversations helped strengthen the bond between player and coach.
However, not every memory was positive. When asked what disappointed him most about Mourinho, Mayoral pointed to the manager’s inability to deal calmly with defeat. According to the Getafe striker, losses often brought out a different side of Mourinho inside the dressing room. He recalled that the coach sometimes made comments that he found inappropriate, not only toward him but also toward several teammates. While Mayoral understands that elite coaches experience enormous pressure and that emotions can run high immediately after a disappointing result, he believes there should always be limits to what is said in those moments.
Borja Mayoral: "Mourinho'nun en sevmediğim yanı, yenilgiyi kabullenememesi. Soyunma odasında hoşuma gitmeyen bazı yorumlar yaptı. Çok rekabetçi biri olduğunu anlıyorum ama insanlara duyulan saygı her zaman her şeyin üzerinde olmalı." (Marca) pic.twitter.com/oVlxNmvYUm
— FutbolArena (@futbolarena) July 25, 2026
Mayoral concluded by stressing that competitiveness is one of Mourinho’s greatest strengths, but it can also become one of his weaknesses. He acknowledged that everyone can say things they later regret when emotions are intense, especially after painful defeats. Nevertheless, he insisted that respect should always come first, regardless of the circumstances. Despite this criticism, the Spanish striker’s overall assessment of Mourinho remains largely positive. He continues to admire the Portuguese coach’s demanding standards, tactical expertise, and ability to inspire players, while recognizing that even one of football’s most successful managers has imperfections that can affect those around him.
