Jose Mourinho is using Real Madrid’s encouraging start to the La Liga season to demand a sustained run of results, while working to improve the squad’s fitness and build greater understanding between his players.
The Portuguese manager faces an early challenge because members of the squad began pre-season at markedly different levels of physical readiness. According to Spanish newspaper AS, some players completed considerably more training sessions than others before the campaign began.
That disparity has been evident between players including Dean Huijsen, Federico Valverde, Arda Guler and Denzel Dumfries on one side, and Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Ibrahima Konate and Marc Cucurella on the other.
Mourinho was nevertheless encouraged by Real Madrid’s attacking performance in their 2-1 victory over Espanyol. He believes his side gradually imposed its style on the match, despite Espanyol being better prepared physically.
Espanyol had completed several weeks of collective preparation, while none of their players had taken part in the World Cup. That gave them an advantage in terms of readiness, particularly against a Real Madrid squad whose players had returned to training at different times.
The manager still has work to do on the team’s attacking and defensive transitions, a central feature of his tactical approach. Mourinho recognises that achieving full cohesion will require further time on the training ground, especially while the squad continues to reach a common physical level.
A new mentality
Alongside his tactical work, Mourinho is attempting to establish a different culture inside the Real Madrid dressing room. The emphasis is on competition, ambition and a determination to win, with several players motivated by a desire to end a two-season wait for major silverware.
The club’s targets include the UEFA Champions League, La Liga and the Copa del Rey. Although the opening performances have not been perfect from a technical perspective, the statistics from the Espanyol match pointed to a side with considerable character.
Real Madrid recorded 63 successful duels compared with Espanyol’s 51. They also led the figures for quick possessions, 22 to 17, and ball recoveries, 60 to 55.
Mourinho is seeking to reinforce a system based on daily demands, discipline and unity throughout the squad. That message was reflected in Thibaut Courtois’ comments after the win, when the Belgium goalkeeper praised the team’s discipline and suggested that the players were beginning to pull in the same direction.
“Everyone is working in one direction,” said Courtois, highlighting the collective commitment Mourinho wants to establish.
The importance of collecting points will increase during the next phase of the season. Real Madrid are due to play seven matches before the next international break, with four of those fixtures scheduled away from home. The opponents listed include Espanyol, Real Betis, Elche and Atletico Madrid.
Mourinho will hope that improved fitness and growing understanding can turn a difficult opening period into the foundation of a stronger campaign. Real Madrid are also awaiting the return of Eder Militao after the international break, which would give the manager another option in his squad and further increase competition for places.
