Mourinho on El Clasico: 'The whole world that loves football stops to watch'

Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho has hailed the global appeal of El Clasico, stressing that "the whole world that loves football stops to watch" when his side take on Barcelona.

Mourinho's team travel to Camp Nou on Sunday for a crucial clash with major implications at the top of LaLiga. Leaders Barcelona currently sit 6 points clear of their eternal rivals.

Los Blancos head into the tough away trip buoyed by a run of consecutive league wins, as well as a convincing 4-1 Champions League victory over RB Leipzig.

Mourinho is unbeaten in his last 5 meetings with Barcelona in all competitions as Madrid boss (3 wins, 2 draws).

Only 2 Real Madrid coaches have previously gone 6 or more consecutive El Clasicos without defeat: Miguel Muñoz between 1962 and 1965 (7 wins) and Vicente del Bosque between 2001 and 2003 (2 wins, 5 draws).

Speaking at his press conference, Mourinho said: "The Real Madrid-Barcelona rivalry means at least two El Clasicos every season, sometimes more. Who the coaches are doesn't really matter; what really matters is the unique global dimension of a Clasico. There are other big derbies in world football, but this match is one of a kind, and usually the whole world that loves football stops to watch it. Let's hope it's a great game, and hopefully we come out on top."

While Mourinho remains confident of victory, it is Barcelona who have had the upper hand in the fixture recently.

Hansi Flick's side have won their last 2 home league games against Real Madrid. However, the Catalans have managed 3 consecutive home wins in this fixture only once in the 21st century, under Pep Guardiola between 2008 and 2010.

Asked whether Sunday's showdown was a test of his team's potential to win trophies, Mourinho replied in his typically direct manner:

"No. Madrid with Mourinho wins trophies. I feel that is the nature of Real Madrid. I simply try to give my players the credit they deserve when they play well, and to take the criticism as a coach when things don't go our way. That is the reality not just at Real Madrid, but for almost every coach in the world. Players win matches, coaches lose them; that's more or less what our life is like."