Mourinho in the Spotlight: Appears with a Bruise Under His Eye
The Portuguese tactician drew attention with an unusual detail during the friendly in Gelsenkirchen, as Real Madrid cruised to a convincing 3-0 victory.
The Portuguese tactician drew attention with an unusual detail during the friendly in Gelsenkirchen, as Real Madrid cruised to a convincing 3-0 victory.
In Gelsenkirchen, in their final test before the start of La Liga, Real Madrid outplayed Schalke 3-0, but the main story wasn't the match itself. José Mourinho, the Portuguese tactician, appeared with a visible black eye, sparking numerous reactions from fans and onlookers.
Cameras captured Mourinho several times during the match, and the noticeable injury under his eye drew attention. According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, a mark resembling a dark bruise was spotted beneath Mourinho's eye.
His altered appearance quickly became the main talking point, although this time the reason had nothing to do with events on the pitch. Photos and TV footage, including those from the REUTERS agency with photographer Kai Pfaffenbach, showed only the visible mark under his eye, with no additional information about how it occurred.
After the match, Mourinho did reveal how he got the bruise. It was an accident during training, where the ball struck him in the face, leaving a visible mark. "The ball hit me in the face during training. If I hadn't been wearing glasses, it probably wouldn't have happened at all. It could have been worse," Mourinho said.
Although Mourinho has often been in the spotlight throughout his career for his statements, personality, and tactical moves, against Schalke he became a topic for a completely different reason. It is not known what happened to Mourinho or how he sustained the injury.
The match was played in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, as Real's final warm-up before the start of the new La Liga season. Real Madrid celebrated a convincing 3-0 victory over the iconic German club. The fixture was also held in honor of the 25th anniversary of Schalke's stadium, the Veltins Arena. Huijsen, Mbappé, and Espi scored for Real.
After the match, Mourinho posed for photos with Schalke's coach, Bosnian-Herzegovinian tactician Mirna Muslić, who presented him with a commemorative gift, a Schalke jersey with the inscription "Special One," Mourinho's well-known nickname.
