Real Madrid News
Former Barcelona star Lewandowski admits Real Madrid are ‘stronger with Jose Mourinho’
Former Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has admitted that Real Madrid look stronger with Jose Mourinho in charge, although the Polish forward was quick to make it clear where his loyalty remains.
Lewandowski, who left Barcelona this summer to continue his career in Major League Soccer, spoke to AS about several subjects and was asked about Madrid’s prospects following an eventful summer at the Santiago Bernabéu, and his assessment was positive.
Real Madrid have added several high-profile players during the transfer window, but Lewandowski believes Mourinho’s arrival could be just as important as the new signings.
“Real Madrid are now stronger with the new signings and with José (Mourinho).”
Mourinho gives Real Madrid a different edge
Real Madrid’s summer has been about more than recruitment.
The club has brought in several established players, strengthening a squad that had gone two consecutive seasons without winning La Liga.
The Portuguese coach has returned to the Bernabéu with the task of restoring Real Madrid’s competitive edge after a period in which the team have failed to match Barcelona domestically.
Lewandowski believes that mentality could ultimately be decisive.
“My feeling is that, after two years without winning anything, their mindset is crucial and they could be very strong this season, but I’m always on Barcelona’s side,” added the former Barcelona forward.
After two seasons without a major trophy, the reaction of the dressing room and the players’ desire to respond could have a major bearing on Real Madrid’s campaign.
Barcelona remain Lewandowski’s choice
Despite praising Real Madrid, Lewandowski did not hesitate when it came to his own preference.
The former Barça forward remains firmly behind his old club, stating, “I’m always on Barcelona’s side,” he added.
Barcelona have won the league in each of the last two seasons, while Madrid have gone through three different managers during that period before Florentino Perez turned to Mourinho.
The appointment is therefore intended to bring stability and a stronger competitive mentality to a side that knows it cannot afford another domestic campaign without silverware.
So far, both Real Madrid and Barcelona have won their opening three La Liga matches, leaving the clubs level at the top of the early standings.
Of course, three matches are nowhere near enough to determine where the title will end up. But the early results reinforce the expectation that this year’s championship race could be considerably tighter.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho’s decision to substitute Real Madrid’s best player vs Real Betis sparks confusion
Arda Guler’s substitution in Real Madrid’s 0-1 defeat to Real Betis looked strange from the outside, and the numbers make the decision even harder to understand.
According to AS, the Turkish international was Real Madrid’s leading chance-creator at La Cartuja, producing seven opportunities for his teammates.
He was also the second-best outfield player for ball recoveries, winning possession back five times.
Guler was replaced in the 65th minute by summer signing Yan Diomande, despite having been arguably Madrid’s most influential player in attack.
His defensive work was equally important, leaving Mourinho with a decision that has inevitably attracted attention.
In fact, his work rate in defence and his attacking flair were something Real Madrid’s finishers failed to capitalise on.
Mourinho explains why Guler had to come off
Mourinho acknowledged that removing Guler was difficult, although he believed the possibility of a second yellow card justified the decision.
The midfielder had been booked earlier in the game and Mourinho feared Betis players would deliberately target him after the break.
“It’s difficult to substitute Arda, yes, very difficult. He was playing very well. The Betis players are smarter, the Madrid players are more innocent, more naive.
“They get up immediately after fouls. I don’t know how he finished the first half with a yellow card, when he played so much and only committed one minor foul.
“Afterwards, they were going to try to catch him, and I had a feeling they could give him a second yellow,” explained the manager after the game.
Guler’s substitutions are becoming a pattern
The Betis match was not the first occasion on which Guler was withdrawn while performing strongly.
Against Espanyol, he was substituted after an hour while Madrid were chasing a winner, despite providing the assist for Jude Bellingham.
He had also been one of the team’s best performers throughout pre-season.
But substituting Guler was then, and it was also against Betis, the easiest substitution.
Guler currently occupies the false right-wing role and remains a regular starter, but Diomande’s arrival adds competition, particularly given the significant fee paid for the new signing.
However, the Turk is seizing every opportunity, even when his teammates struggle to keep up, giving Mourinho even more of a selection headache.
