Real Madrid News
Real Madrid manager still undecided over his preferred starter in key position
The opening stages of Real Madrid’s pre-season have provided an opportunity to assess several players, including some of the newcomers.
One of the most closely watched has been Denzel Dumfries, whose arrival as a €20 million ‘dark horse’ signing from Inter initially suggested that he had been brought in to provide cover for Trent Alexander-arnold.
The Dutchman appeared to be the rotation option, the player who would take some of the Englishman’s minutes during a demanding season.
Because Trent was expected to become one of Mourinho’s leaders from the back following an inconsistent first season in white.
With numerous players still away following the World Cup, Mourinho has had to rebuild his team in his own way, and in that process the right-back position has become a role with two genuine contenders.
However, the distribution of minutes across the first three friendlies has left his position less secure, reports MARCA.
Dumfries and Trent trade places
The experiments make that clear. Against Fiorentina, Trent started at right-back while Dumfries played ahead of him as a winger. The Englishman completed the match, while the Dutchman came off in the 75th minute.
In the second game, against Ferencvaros, Mourinho reversed their roles: Dumfries started and Trent came on in the second half.
Then, against Deportivo, the manager again started the Dutchman at right-back, with Trent coming on at halftime. The former Inter player played the full 90 minutes, though, moving to an advanced position in the second period.
Dumfries versatility and attitude shine through
Dumfries’ versatility has given him a slight advantage at the beginning of pre-season.
Until Brahim Diaz returned, Mourinho only had Dani Yanez as a genuine option to cover the right wing, meaning the Dutchman has become a valuable utility player in that area.
The Dutchman also fits the profile of footballer the Portuguese coach turns into a warrior, even though he has yet to show his best qualities during pre-season.
Trent, meanwhile, has looked particularly sharp, relaxed and eager to assert his authority.
Mourinho has deliberately created uncertainty, alternating players and formations without committing to anyone, forcing everyone to compete until the final minute of preseason.
As such, the final decision about who will be Real Madrid’s starting right-back remains up in the air, and that uncertainty could be the coach’s best tool for getting the most out of a squad that is still taking shape.
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.
