The La Liga club played nine games in January, five in La
Liga and four in the King's Cup, and a 1-1 league draw at Almeria and Sunday's
shock 1-0 defeat at Osasuna left them seven points behind leaders and great
rivals Barcelona.
"Playing nine matches in a month is not a problem for
players who are used to it," Portuguese Mourinho told a news conference
ahead of Wednesday's Cup semifinal second leg at home to holders Sevilla, for
which Real have a 1-0 advantage from the first leg.
"But these (Real players) are not because for several
years now Madrid has been eliminated from the Cup in the first or second
knockout round and in the Champions League the same.
"They are not used to it due to bad lack or
circumstances but the fatigue is not physical because players of this caliber
are ready to play a match every two days.
"From a psychological point of view it takes more
getting used to." Real are bidding for a first domestic cup since 1993 and
if they advance to the final will almost certainly meet Barca. Pep Guardiola's
side thrashed Almeria 5-0 in the first leg at the Nou Camp and also play their
second leg on Wednesday.
The final is on April 20, a few days after Real host Barca
in La Liga for the second "Clasico" of the season.
The La Liga giants could also be drawn to play each other in
the Champions League quarterfinals if Real get past Olympique Lyon, who knocked
them out at the same stage last season, and Barca eliminate Arsenal.
Mourinho said the experience of playing so many games over
such a short period would stand his players in good stead for the future.
"I hope they will be better next year and even better
in two or three years because the goal is to play in all competitions," he
said.
"These players are human beings and there are human
beings in other teams who play every three days.
"The
human being is a creature of habit so that means they will be better used to
playing more regularly next year."
