Ronaldo Nazario praises Real Madrid and Mourinho after El Clasico win: ‘Shaping the team to his liking’

Ronaldo Nazario has praised Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Barcelona at the Spotify Camp Nou, describing the El Clasico result as particularly special while highlighting Jose Mourinho’s growing influence on the team.

Speaking to DAZN during the Ballon d’Or gala, the former Barcelona and Real Madrid forward commended Madrid’s performance and the tactical direction under their manager.

The Brazilian, who represented both Spanish giants during his playing career, believes Real Madrid delivered an impressive performance in one of the most demanding fixtures in European football.

Ronaldo explained the significance of winning at Barcelona’s home ground, recognising the difficulty of securing a positive result in El Clasico away from the Santiago Bernabeu.

“Last night’s El Clasico was very beautiful, very special. Winning against Barcelona at their stadium is not easy,” he said during his appearance in London.

Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory at the Spotify Camp Nou gave the club an important result against their rivals and, most notably, brought Barcelona’s 11-match winning streak to an end, according to the supplied match context.

Ronaldo also highlighted Mourinho’s influence, suggesting the Portuguese manager is gradually building a team that reflects his preferred style of football.

“Real Madrid played very well, they defended very well. Jose Mourinho is shaping the team to his liking,” he said of the Portuguese manager.

Real Madrid’s approach was based on avoiding an overly passive defensive structure.

Rather than allowing Barcelona to control possession without facing meaningful resistance, the team looked to remain composed on the ball and progress through the opposition’s initial press.

As such, the combination of defensive organisation and purposeful possession offered a route to troubling Barcelona without relying exclusively on counter-attacks.