Real Madrid News
Former Real Madrid star gives vote of confidence to Mourinho: ‘Everything is magnified’
It is no secret that things are not going well at Real Madrid. The team is already staring at problems that have haunted them in the past two years, including a dysfunctional dressing room.
New coach Jose Mourinho has not been able to steady the ship just yet and is yet to bring out the best in certain individuals, including Vinicius Jr., who looks like a shadow of his former self.
Despite so much pessimism, former footballer Fernando Morientes remains hopeful that Real Madrid will come back and has given his vote of confidence to Mourinho.
Morientes backs Mourinho
The former striker urged patience, pointing to Mourinho’s history of turning things around after slow starts.
“The players would give Mourinho some leeway. I’ve seen Real Madrid write him off in November many times, then they bounce back and end up winning the Champions League,” he said (h/t Defensa Central).
He acknowledged the intense scrutiny that comes with the club, but remained confident the team will click into gear.
“Everything is magnified, for better or for worse,” he said, while backing them to eventually compete for major honours, including the Champions League.
The international break a blessing
Morientes also believes the timing of the international break could work in Real Madrid’s favour, despite arriving on the back of a derby defeat.
He described it as “fantastic” for the club and “a welcome relief,” allowing Mourinho to work with the players who remain at Valdebebas.
The former striker feels the break will help the squad “clear their heads and return with a renewed mindset, as this time will provide a bit of a boost.”
For Morientes, the biggest challenge for Mourinho is getting his players to block out the criticism and whistles they have faced.
He pointed to Carlos Espi’s late goals against Espanyol and Elche as evidence the team believes until the very end, though he admitted that fighting spirit was missing in the derby.
The comments come amid wider concerns at the club, with reports even suggesting some players are out of shape.
Nonetheless, Morientes insists this Real Madrid side remains very much alive and capable of lifting the Champions League, provided they rediscover their belief and break free from their current negative spiral.
Real Madrid have an interesting selection dilemma at left-back, with Marc Cucurella and Alvaro Carreras competing for a starting spot under Jose Mourinho.
While Cucurella brings experience and an established reputation, Carreras is making an increasingly convincing case to become the team’s first-choice option.
The battle between the two Spaniards is particularly relevant given Madrid’s defensive difficulties so far this season.
Mourinho is searching for greater defensive stability and has an important choice to make between Cucurella and Carreras.
Carreras offers the defensive security Madrid need
One of Carreras’ biggest strengths is his ability to defend in one-v-one situations.
The 23-year-old generally looks comfortable against direct wingers, showing patience in his positioning and making it difficult for opponents to get past him.
That defensive reliability is particularly valuable in Mourinho’s system, where full-backs can find themselves isolated when Madrid lose possession.
Cucurella, meanwhile, has occasionally looked vulnerable against opponents attacking him directly, with space opening up for crosses from his side.
With Vinicius Junior usually playing ahead of him, the former Chelsea man does not get the defensive support he needs from his winger, leaving him isolated.
However, Carreras’ case is not built entirely on defending. He is also comfortable carrying possession forward, driving into space and helping Madrid progress down the left flank.
This makes him an attractive option for a team that has struggled to progress the ball up the pitch as consistently as they would have hoped.
Cucurella still offers qualities Mourinho values
Despite the growing case for Carreras, Cucurella should not be dismissed, and his reputation should not be forgotten.
His experience, aggressive pressing and willingness to engage opponents higher up the pitch can be useful when Madrid want to pin back the opposition.
He is also capable of moving into central areas to support possession, giving Mourinho different tactical possibilities.
However, Cucurella’s attacking contributions have not always been as influential as expected during these early weeks.
The Spaniard made a name for himself at Chelsea and with Spain by getting into attacking positions and creating chances for his teammates.
At Madrid, however, with the team looking to pass the ball quickly to runners like Vinicius and Mbappe, the best aspect of Cucurella’s game has not come to the fore.
This makes defensive solidity the primary requirement for Madrid’s left-back, and it is here that Carreras seems to have an advantage over Cucurella.
Carreras deserves an extended opportunity
At this stage, Carreras has a strong argument for becoming Madrid’s preferred left-back.
His defensive qualities appear particularly suited to the team’s immediate needs, while his ability to carry possession ensures Madrid would not sacrifice much attacking potential.
Instead of treating the left-back role as a game of musical chairs, Mourinho would be better off giving one of the two an extended run to make the position their own.
Competition for places is healthy as long as it does not breed insecurity, and at the moment, Carreras seems to be in better form than Cucurella.
It will not be easy to justify benching a summer investment, but Mourinho’s job is to make those difficult calls, and it remains to be seen how he approaches this decision.
