LOS ANGELES — Real Madrid coach José Mourinho has settled into a preseason routine that he likes for his teams, and the LA Galaxy are a key part of it.
"I like to play against the Galaxy," Mourinho said after Real Madrid finished off a tidy 4-1 victory against their MLS opposition.
WATCH: Full Match Highlights
Yet it wasn't the relatively easy triumph that made Mourinho glad to face the LA team.
"To win, it's not the most important thing, but it helps the happiness of the team," Mourinho shrugged.
He then complimented the Galaxy squad.
"I've played against them with Chelsea, and with Inter, and they want to play football," Mourinho explained. "They don't want to play a defensive match. They want to play a good game and entertain the crowd and because of that, it's the kind of game I like to play."
In looking back on Real Madrid's stint, which has had the team training at nearby UCLA, Mourinho didn't exactly burst into a chorus of Randy Newman's "I Love LA", but he made it clear that the Southern California location is his preferred spot to start the season.
"It's a good place to be in condition, and to train," Mourinho explained. "We have great facilities and conditions to work and at the same time, there's what the American society gives to the soccer players. They can walk the streets, they can spend time together, they can improve their relationships and that's important in the preseason."
Though Real Madrid claimed the Copa del Rey last season, the squad fell short in league play and in the Champions League, continously stymied by bitter rivals Barcelona.
"To win a championship comes down to little details," Mourinho stated. "We were close in many ways last season, but it's those little details we have to get right. "
When asked which trophy would be the main focus for Real Madrid in the upcoming season, Mourinho showed the steely resolve which helps drive his team onward.
"I cannot choose. If we are a great team, we try to win every game, every championship. That's what great teams do."
