Jose Mourinho produced a trademark knee slide on the touchline after Kylian Mbappe's second goal sealed Real Madrid's 2-1 win over Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Sunday night.
The victory moved Real to within three points of their rivals in the La Liga title race, with Mbappe scoring twice to take his tally to 14 goals in 13 games across all competitions this season.
Classic Mourinho Moment
Real came into the match as underdogs against high-flying Barcelona and had just 37 per cent of the ball, but they took their chances. Mbappe's opening goal owed much to good fortune, with Gerard Martin's clearance going straight into his shin and then into the net. Barcelona equalised through Raphinha before Eduardo Camavinga broke into the box and picked out Mbappe to tap in the decisive goal in the 87th minute.
The 63-year-old Mourinho, who returned to Real in the summer after a miserable campaign under Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, pulled out a trademark knee slide on the touchline and, after a respectful handshake with Barca boss Hansi Flick, delivered a typically pointed line.
"I dedicate this win to the Barca fans who came to the hotel and kept singing all day, I couldn't take my nap," Mourinho told Real Madrid TV. "I didn't nap, but I did beat their team. A big hug to them."
Unbeaten Run in El Clasico
Mourinho has won six and lost six in El Clasico as Real manager across two stints, but he is unbeaten in the past six, boasting four wins and two draws. Real are now three points adrift of Barcelona and one behind Atletico Madrid in La Liga.
"In my view, Real Madrid do not play to win at the Camp Nou, Real Madrid play to win La Liga," Mourinho said. "We could win with luck, but we won with calmness and with all merit. It's a very strong group. Everyone works very hard. Everyone was ready to win."
"The credit goes to the players. When you win, the credit goes to the players. But when you lose, the blame falls on you. And that's why we see coaches being sacked from their positions every week."
Strong Supporting Cast
Mbappe had a strong supporting cast, with Jude Bellingham once again catching the eye in midfield, where Bernardo Silva's tenacity combined nicely with the enterprising Yan Diomande and Arda Guler.
"I've learned that I have an extraordinary group, with the quality and mindset to play," Mourinho added. "In midfield, having a mix of talents gives us more than just having two players with similar characteristics. This mix of talents gives us balance when defending and quality when we go on the attack."
