Mourinho turns back time with trademark reaction to Real Madrid's El Clasico win

This is why Real Madrid brought Jose Mourinho back.

Florentino Perez's decision to hire Mourinho in the summer after a miserable campaign under Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa was criticised by many as being stuck in the past. Mourinho had last managed Real 13 years previously and his methods have been questioned in recent years.

But his knee slide after Kylian Mbappe's second goal sealed a much-needed 2-1 win over Barcelona on Sunday night was exactly the kind of moment Perez must have envisioned.

It was classic Mourinho. Real came into the game as underdogs against high-flying Barca and had just 37 per cent of the ball. But they took their chances.

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Mbappe's opening goal owed much to good fortune, with Gerard Martin's clearance going straight into his shin and then into the net. Barca 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 pulled out a trademark knee slide on the touchline and, after a respectful handshake with Barca boss Hansi Flick, he delivered the sort of line he's become known for.

"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."

Mourinho has won six and lost six in El Clasico as Real manager across two stints, but he's actually unbeaten in the past six, boasting four wins and two draws. He is the man for the big occasion and Real are now just three points adrift of their rivals, and one behind Atletico Madrid, in La Liga.

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"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," he said. "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."

Mbappe got the goals to make it 14 strikes in 13 games across all competitions this season. But he 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."