Real Madrid News
Mourinho has already changed one major part of Vinicius’ game at Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho appears to be getting a different version of Vinicius Jr. out of him at Real Madrid, with the Brazilian’s defensive contribution becoming increasingly noticeable even while his attacking form remains below his best.
Repairing the relationship between the manager and Vinicius was one of Mourinho’s early priorities after taking charge.
Their relationship had been badly strained by Real Madrid’s three meetings with Benfica last season, particularly the fallout from the Gianluca Prestianni affair.
Mourinho worked to change that dynamic after the World Cup and played an important role in Vinicius deciding to renew his Real Madrid contract.
Now, the manager is gradually demanding more from the Brazilian in areas beyond goals and dribbles.
Vinicius shows a different side against Inter
The performance against Inter Milan in the Champions League opener offered the clearest evidence yet.
Vinicius was far from his most dangerous going forward, creating no clear-cut chances, failing to register a shot on target and completing only two successful dribbles.
However, his work without the ball told a completely different story.
The Brazilian recovered possession nine times against Inter, more than twice as many as the next-best Real Madrid player, Jude Bellingham, who recorded four recoveries.
It was a striking contribution from a player who has frequently faced criticism over his defensive commitment.
Vinicius repeatedly dropped deeper to support his teammates when Real Madrid were defending, helping the side deal with Inter’s pressure and providing an intensity that has not always been associated with his game.
Mourinho changing Vinicius’s mentality
Those nine recoveries were also significant historically, as no Real Madrid forward had managed more in a match since Gonzalo Higuaín recorded 12 in 2008.
The numbers suggest Mourinho is already influencing one particular aspect of Vinicius’ game.
The Brazilian may not yet be back to the level where he consistently beats defenders and finishes chances, but his willingness to contribute defensively is becoming much harder to overlook.
Lastly, there has also been a noticeable change in his temperament.
Vinicius appears more measured than the fiery player who has often found himself at the centre of confrontations, something Mourinho has encouraged since the beginning of the campaign.
Bernabeu reaction remains a concern
Against Inter, Vinicius again struggled to find his attacking rhythm and was eventually replaced late in the match. He left the pitch exhausted, but the familiar reaction from the Bernabéu followed.
Some supporters booed the Brazilian as he departed, although the criticism became less intense when Mourinho encouraged the crowd to applaud him.
That moment summed up Vinicius’ current situation at Madrid. His attacking numbers still need to improve, but Mourinho appears to be building a more complete and disciplined player in the meantime.
One of the biggest positives for Real Madrid from the last season was the breakthrough of young midfielder Thiago Pitarch.
The 19-year-old La Fabrica prospect had been in the first-team dynamics since pre-season under Xabi Alonso, but finally got his senior debut under Alvaro Arbeloa at the turn of the year.
From that moment on, Pitarch did not look back at all, gaining prominence in the team and even starting important matches ahead of established players like Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos.
However, things have not gone as per plans for the teenager this season as he has yet to play a single minute of first-team football.
January loan no longer ruled out
As such, Diario AS now reports that Pitarch would consider leaving Real Madrid on loan during the January transfer window if his situation does not improve.
The teenage midfielder suffered an injury in pre-season which kept him sidelined for a few weeks, denying him an opportunity to start the season under Jose Mourinho.
By the time he returned, the Portuguese tactician had already identified his preferred hierarchy in midfield, with the likes of Federico Valverde, Bernardo Silva, Aurelien Tchouameni and Camavinga firmly ahead in the pecking order.
A stark difference from his debut season
In his debut season, Pitarch ended with 16 first-team appearances for Real Madrid with two assists to his name.
In contrast, this term, the academy graduate has been called up to the matchday squad for five games by Mourinho this term, but has yet to play a single minute of football.
Given the situation, he used the international break to jump down to Castilla and play close to 250 minutes across three games, during which he also registered an assist.
The situation is far from ideal for a young talent who needs regular minutes to continue his development and build on his impressive breakthrough campaign.
As such, the possibility of a departure on loan in January could be considered, after Pitarch turned down offers in the summer to stay at Real Madrid.
A lot will depend on how things evolve in the next couple of months, but a temporary exit cannot be ruled out.
