Jose Mourinho has introduced a new set of daily rules at Real Madrid, giving the club’s players less freedom over their diet, demanding earlier arrivals at the training ground and imposing tighter controls on injury rehabilitation.
According to AS, the Portuguese head coach has increased his oversight of the squad’s routine as he seeks to establish greater discipline within the Madrid club.
The changes include new arrangements for meals. A club nutritionist now has complete authority over what is served for breakfast and at the team’s other meals. Previously, players had more freedom to decide what they ate.
Mourinho has also introduced collective lunches involving both the squad and the coaching staff. The measure means players and coaches will eat together rather than following entirely separate routines, adding another organised element to the team’s day.
Discipline has been addressed in a similar way. All Real Madrid players must now arrive at the club’s training ground one hour before a session is due to begin. The rule applies to every member of the squad, regardless of their status or standing within the team.
Anyone who arrives late will not simply join the rest of the group. Instead, the player will be required to complete an individual workout in the gym away from the team.
There will be no financial penalties for lateness. Mourinho’s response is instead based on additional work and separation from the squad during the relevant training period.
The manager has also tightened the club’s procedures for players recovering from injuries. Those who are sidelined must complete their rehabilitation at the training ground twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening.
Treatment outside the club’s facilities will not be permitted under the new arrangements. The policy gives Real Madrid greater control over the recovery programmes followed by injured players and the time they spend working towards a return.
AS reports that the new requirements have not caused dissatisfaction within the squad. Despite the increased restrictions on food, punctuality and rehabilitation, there has been no reported unhappiness among the players.
The measures form part of Mourinho’s wider approach to managing the team’s everyday behaviour. Rather than focusing on fines, the new rules place emphasis on preparation, shared routines and direct supervision by the club.
Players are now expected to follow the same basic standards, whether they are established first-team figures or have a different role within the squad. The arrangements cover the main elements of their working day, from meals and arrival times to the rehabilitation work required after an injury.
Under Mourinho, Real Madrid’s routine has therefore become more structured, with the nutritionist responsible for food choices, the coaching staff joining the players for lunch and the club’s facilities serving as the required base for both training and recovery.
