Mourinho returns with calm words and hard edge as Real reset begins

MADRID, Aug 21 : Jose Mourinho walked into his first Real Madrid press conference three minutes early on Friday, but the message was deliberate: commitment is non-negotiable, competition is unavoidable and frustration over selection decisions will not be tolerated.

Three days after his formal unveiling behind closed doors, Mourinho faced the media at Real's Valdebebas training complex before Saturday's LaLiga opener at Espanyol, speaking for more than 40 minutes in a notably measured tone.

Despite Real entering the season after back-to-back trophyless campaigns and with pressure mounting on President Florentino Perez, who recently secured re-election, Mourinho rejected the idea that the club was gripped by anxiety.

Instead, he said the mood was one of anticipation.

"We are tired of playing friendlies. We don't love football because of friendlies, we are all eager to jump right back into competitive football," Mourinho said.

"I wouldn't say the feeling here is pressure... It's more like adrenaline. Which is positive, that pump. I don't feel pressure. Because I have a lot of confidence in the work we've put in and in the players' hunger, commitment."

COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY

Mourinho repeatedly stressed the importance of collective responsibility in a squad packed with elite talent, while making clear that individual ambitions must come second to the team.

"What we need is to not negotiate things that are non-negotiable. Commitment is mandatory," he said.

"The team must go ahead of personal feelings. Tomorrow will be the first time the players will have to deal with it. I can't start a match with 15 players.

"I don't want easy decisions, that would be benching a player who got frustrated because he didn't play what he thought he