Real Madrid News
Jose Mourinho faces first major test of Real Madrid return with Betis and Inter ahead
Jose Mourinho’s second spell at Real Madrid has started almost perfectly, with three wins from three for his side.
Los Blancos have played some entertaining football, scored goals for fun and seen their superstars come together with the kind of chemistry not seen before.
However, it does look like the honeymoon period might be coming to an end. Two demanding matches in the space of just five days should provide the first meaningful test of how far his new-look side have already progressed.
Madrid first travel to face Real Betis in La Liga before turning their attention to Inter Milan at the Bernabeu in their Champions League opener.
Betis provide first warning
Madrid have built momentum quickly, combining attacking intensity with signs of improving defensive organisation.
Betis, however, should ask more difficult questions than Madrid have faced so far.
Playing away from home against a technically strong side will test whether Mourinho’s team can maintain their aggressive approach when the match becomes less comfortable.
It is the type of fixture that Madrid have typically struggled with in the last couple of seasons, which is usually the difference between finishing first and second in La Liga.
Mourinho has repeatedly stressed the importance of his team playing as a group, and it is in these kinds of games that the idea will really be tested.
Inter raise the difficulty considerably
If Betis are set to be a challenge, Madrid face an even bigger one in the coming days after that game.
Inter represent Madrid’s first Champions League opponents of the season and immediately offer Mourinho an opportunity to measure his project against elite European opposition.
Madrid will also enter that game with midfield problems. Aurelien Tchouameni is unavailable through injury, while Arda Guler, Eduardo Camavinga and Bernardo Silva are suspended.
That could force Mourinho to turn to youngsters like Sergio Martinez to play a key role and emerge victorious against someone he formerly managed, Cristian Chivu.
Reality will start to sink in
The joy around Madrid, their team and the fans is the highest it has been in the last couple of seasons.
Jose Mourinho had an excellent pre-season upon his return to Spain, and the performances have reflected the work put in back then.
However, the real test is set to begin now. Playing Betis and Inter back-to-back is not going to be an easy task for Madrid.
It could finally be the time when chinks in the armour begin to appear, and Mourinho will have to be proactive to find solutions along the way.
It remains to be seen how Jose’s team get through these important games and whether Madrid can still keep their perfect record intact at the end of next week.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid believe recent events vs Villarreal and Roma were necessary to unite dressing room
As is the case always, there is a lot of noise surrounding Real Madrid. The Merengues continue to wage war against FC Barcelona over the Negreira case while continuing to battle the refereeing system in La Liga.
Performances on the pitch have not met the level of expectations and there is constant scrutiny on the team and the club as a whole.
Not a coincidence
Now, according to Jose Felix Diaz of AS, Real Madrid do not view recent events as isolated incidents. At Valdebebas, the club’s leadership believes that what has happened since the start of La Liga points to something more than a series of coincidences.
In their view, the events suggest a deliberate pattern, with the four-match suspension handed to Vinícius Jr. on Wednesday representing the culmination of what they perceive as a series of provocations.
Relations between Real Madrid and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have been strained for some time, but club officials believe the latest developments go further than previous disagreements.
Their view is that what has happened “has not been accidental”, although this is a reflection of the club’s position rather than an established fact.
Vinicius suspension intensifies the dispute
Real Madrid see the four-match ban imposed on Vinicius as a provocation, both because of its length and, above all, because of the timing of its announcement. The decision was communicated less than two hours before kick-off against Roma.
The RFEF’s disciplinary decisions are usually published in the early afternoon. However, the complexity of the Vinicius case coupled with some other events delayed the publication of all the rulings, not just the one concerning the Brazilian’s red card.
Nevertheless, the timing has reinforced Real Madrid’s existing concerns about their relationship with the governing body.
Mourinho becomes the club’s public voice
The latest disagreement comes after tentative efforts to open a dialogue, which have so far failed to produce meaningful progress. Relations between the two sides appear more distant than ever.
One significant difference this time is that Jose Mourinho has become the principal spokesperson for Real Madrid’s position. The Portuguese coach is prepared to communicate the club’s views directly and without diplomatic restraint.
Mourinho represents the club’s thinking and shares its concerns. His personality and direct communication style align with the message Real Madrid want to convey.
Comeback in Rome could prove a turning point
Despite the growing tension off the pitch, Real Madrid believe their recent performances could have a positive impact within the squad.
The club consider the events of Saturday and the comeback against Roma on Wednesday to have been particularly important.
There is a strong belief at Valdebebas that the team needed moments of adversity and a comeback of that magnitude to achieve greater unity within the dressing room.
The Champions League battle in Rome is therefore viewed as more than just another result. Internally, the conviction is that the experience could help strengthen the team’s collective spirit and bring the players together at a crucial stage of the season.
