Real Madrid News
Former Real Madrid defender was never an option to join Mourinho’s coaching staff – report
After weeks of speculation, Jose Mourinho is officially the coach of Real Madrid and will look to restore the club’s lost glory next season.
The experienced coach is expected to ring in the changes in the team, which could include the proliferation of multiple Portuguese talents.
Mourinho is also expected to bring in a new set of trusted individuals to act as assistants and play a key role in forming the technical staff. One name that has been floated is Pepe.
The former Real Madrid defender was rumoured to be a part of Mourinho’s staff, although a recent report has now refuted those claims.
Pepe not an option for Real Madrid
According to MARCA (h/t Madrid Zone), Pepe was never a priority option for Real Madrid, as far as Jose Mourinho’s technical staff is concerned.
The report adds that no official contacts ever took place between the parties, thus putting an end to speculation that the legendary defender could be set for a return to the Bernabeu in a coaching capacity.
Who is in the running?
Two former Real Madrid players have emerged as genuine options for Mourinho’s coaching staff.
The Portuguese coach has always preferred to have a former player with intimate knowledge of the club in his backroom setup, as he demonstrated during his first spell at the Bernabeu when he brought in Aitor Karanka.
While Pepe was touted as one of the candidates, it appears Ricardo Carvalho is emerging as the more preferred choice of the two.
Carvalho, though, is currently working as an assistant manager for Portugal at the FIFA World Cup, and it will be hard to bring him in early.
Mourinho is also expected to bring across trusted members of his coaching staff from Benfica, including assistant coaches and a fitness coach.
The role of Antonio Pintus, who had previously returned to the club’s medical and fitness setup, within the new structure also remains to be determined.
After three successive wins to start the season, a 1-0 loss to Real Betis came as a reality check for Real Madrid, who are still some way off matching the quality and consistency of Barcelona.
In light of the defeat, the Real Madrid coaching staff is analysing the best way to get the most out of the current setup.
More expected from Valverde
According to Defensa Central, one of the key conclusions drawn from the Betis defeat is that Real Madrid need greater involvement from Federico Valverde with the ball.
The Uruguayan has been deployed as the pivot, largely due to the absence of the injured Aurelien Tchouameni, but he is yet to make the step up in quality the team requires from that role.
While his effort and commitment are never in doubt, Mourinho and his staff, led by Sami Khedira, feel Valverde spends too much time positioned behind the opposition’s midfield line.
As a result, he fails to offer passing lanes to his teammates when they are under pressure, forcing them into hurried, aimless clearances rather than playing out cleanly from the back.
That concern has already been communicated to Valverde, who is still adapting to a position he has never truly played, making the challenge all the more difficult for him.
A collective issue to fix
However, the problem is not Valverde’s alone, with the coaching staff identifying a wider issue in the team’s structure.
Khedira has reportedly noted a certain passivity from the attackers in the videos of the match, particularly Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe, when it comes to offering themselves as the ball transitions from midfield into attacking areas.
That lack of movement compounds the difficulties for the deeper midfielders.
Mourinho, for his part, remains unfazed by the departure of Rodri to Barcelona, insisting his squad has the tools to cope.
“I’m not missing Rodri. We have solutions, we have quality,” the Portuguese said, before adding that he backs his ability to improve players.
With a Champions League opener against Inter Milan on the horizon, Mourinho and his staff will be keen to iron out these issues quickly.
