Mourinho faces midfield control and cohesion problems at Real Madrid
September 26, 2026 12:10
Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid has encountered immediate questions after a derby defeat by Atletico Madrid and an inconsistent start to the season. Mourinho signed a three-year contract when he returned 13 years after his first spell, in which he won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. He was brought in to restore stability after two trophyless seasons.
The defeat at Atletico exposed problems beyond two first-half refereeing decisions Mourinho highlighted—Cristian Romero escaping a red card for a studs-up challenge on Jude Bellingham and Lee Kang-in’s similar challenge on Federico Valverde going unpunished. Real’s performance, the report says, was “simply not good enough.”
KEY ISSUES
Midfield control: Mourinho started Aurélien Tchouaméni alongside Valverde with Bellingham pushed further forward. That double pivot provided energy and defensive security but struggled to control tempo or create from deeper areas. Bernardo Silva was introduced only for the final eight minutes. The article notes Silva’s ability to dictate play and Arda Guler’s creative profile as possible options to increase control without necessarily abandoning the double pivot.
Attacking cohesion: Real have individual match-winners in Vinícius Jr, Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham, but the trio have not consistently combined as a unit. Against Atletico, clear chances were scarce: Mbappé was described as largely ineffective and barely involved, while Vinícius was substituted shortly after Dean Huijsen’s red card early in the second half. Bellingham’s forward runs and late-box arrivals remain a key attacking outlet, but the team needs to ensure the three stars complement rather than crowd each other.
Emerging contributors: The piece highlights Carlos Espi, who scored a 90th-minute winner on his league debut against Espanyol and followed it with another stoppage-time goal against Elche.
STANDINGS AND CONTEXT
Real sit fourth in La Liga. Defending champions Barcelona are six points clear after winning all seven of their league games, scoring 31 goals, with Raphinha already on 12. Atlético Madrid and Real Betis sit behind Barcelona and are both five points adrift of Hansi Flick’s side. The only time Real have overturned a six-point deficit to Barcelona was under Fabio Capello in 2006-07.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
An unusually long international break gives Mourinho time to reassess. Real do not play again until they host Villarreal on Saturday 10 October, before a trip to Barcelona two weeks later. The break is described as an early opportunity to take stock, although Mourinho reportedly has concerns about its length.