Mourinho wants two more signings

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has revealed he is still seeking two more signings in order to compete for honours in Spain and Europe this season.

Mourinho has already signed Angel di Maria, Pedro Leon and Sami Khedira this summer but admits he needs more recruits at both ends of the pitch as he looks to bring silverware to Madrid.

“I think the club can still give me a defender but it’s difficult to find quality players and youngsters with a lot of potential,” he told Portuguese newspaper Record.

“As well as a defender I would like another striker. If another attacking player comes in, he will be more than welcome.

“For the centre of the attack I have Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain, although Cristiano Ronaldo can also occupy that role. But I prefer for him to have more freedom to feel comfortable – he has too much talent to be limited to that position. That’s why I would like to have someone else – let’s see if it’s possible.”

Mourinho revealed he has been hugely impressed by Ronaldo’s performances in pre-season training.

“I don’t have many friends that are coaches, but Sir Alex Ferguson is one and when I spoke to him, he told me that the kid [Ronaldo], as he called him, had an incredible way of working. After seeing him, what I find impressive for a player with the status that he has is that nobody works harder,” he said.

Madrid were largely dependent on the brilliance of Ronaldo last season but Mourinho hopes the responsibility will be more evenly shared through the team this term.

“I want to take that pressure off him. He can only improve if the team improves,” he said.

“Last season, he was the one who carried the team a lot of the time and if in a given game, the rival created a good strategy to stop him, or the game wasn’t going well for him, for whatever reason, the team suffered.

“That’s negative for a player, however good he is. The team needs him and he works for the team, not alone.”

Mourinho also believes Ronaldo can still improve. saying: “His physical condition is impressive. He is 25 and he still has time to improve.

“Technically he is amazing and tactically I am sure he will understand the game [better].”

The former Chelsea manager admits he has taken over at a delicate moment in Madrid’s history.

“The club hasn’t won anything for two years, hasn’t won the Copa del Rey for 17 or 18 years, hasn’t won the Champions League for 10, and has not got past the last 16 for several years,” he said.

“That for most clubs would be normal, but for a giant club it’s a difficult situation, almost a dramatic one.”

Mourinho has previously stated his project will only be in full flow in his second season, but he believes he still needs to bring instant success to Madrid.

“I usually say that the second year brings more maturity, but I’m perfectly aware that Madrid’s DNA demands a title in the first year,” he said.

“In seven years (coaching), except when I left Chelsea in September or November, I have always won more than one trophy per year.”