Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has slammed the international calendar.

Mourinho blames the timing of internationals for their poor start to the season.

"Pre-season was interrupted for something which all managers think is ridiculous and it crops up in the calendar and we all know that we have to adapt. After a European Championship or World Cup, you start late and in two separate groups. You work and then two weeks later, this ridiculous thing happens and each national team goes wherever and does what it wants with the players. It happens to all the teams that have a lot of international players."