Real Madrid News
Real Madrid trio intent on convincing Mourinho amid uncertain futures
Real Madrid have started their preparations for the season ahead, with Jose Mourinho hoping to add a new lease of life to a team that has fallen behind Barcelona in recent years.
Real Madrid are indeed coming on the back of two trophyless campaigns, which prompted Mourinho to sign no less than four players already.
Change, therefore, is in the air and many existing stars are now facing an uncertain future at Santiago Bernabeu.
Three players keen to impress Mourinho
According to El Debate, three players, in particular, are determined to impress Mourinho during the pre-season, as they look to protect their future at the Bernabeu.
The three players in question are Eduardo Camavinga, Raul Asencio and Franco Mastantuono. All of them did not participate in the World Cup this summer and are available at the disposal of Mourinho from day one of training.
While Asencio’s World Cup aspirations were a far-fetched dream, the omissions of Mastantuono and Camavinga were certainly big calls made by their respective national team managers.
Their teams have done well without them, with Spain, France and Argentina all reaching the semifinal stage. Now, these three players, having rested in the summer, are looking to make a mark heading into the new season.
Fighting for their futures
Apart from not participating in the World Cup, these three players have something else in common: All of them have been linked with a move away from Santiago Bernabeu this summer. They also want to stay at the club at all costs.
Several Premier League clubs are already eyeing a move for Camavinga, who appears to have no future at Real Madrid.
Asencio, too, should fall behind in the pecking order following the addition of Ibrahima Konate, with Mourinho looking to sign one more centre-back.
As for Mastantuono, he might not leave permanently just yet. But he has been linked with a loan move elsewhere after a disappointing debut campaign in Spain.
Among the three, selling Asencio makes the most sense for Real Madrid as it would help them make way for another new defender.
Camavinga’s exit, too, could help Real Madrid bring in a new midfielder, although it appears the player is not too keen on leaving the club.
Real Madrid’s adventure so far under new coach Jose Mourinho has been far from perfect and this fact shouldn’t be lost even after the team’s brilliant comeback win over AS Roma in midweek.
However, there are areas where Los Blancos have shown a clear improvement under Mourinho, when compared to previous bosses such as Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa.
One of those areas has been set plays, with Real Madrid appearing far more potent from set pieces this season.
A clear improvement from last season
As reported by Diario AS, the three goals in Rome, all from Arda Guler corners inside a seven-minute blitz, were the perfect advert for the work being done at Valdebebas.
Those strikes took Real Madrid’s set-piece tally to seven goals in just ten matches this season. Four of them have come in La Liga, one from a corner and three from free kicks, with the trio in Rome completing the haul.
It is a striking figure when set against last season’s return. Under Alonso and Arbeloa, Madrid managed 12 set-piece goals across the entire campaign, all in La Liga, split evenly between six from corners and six from free kicks.
On current trends, this side looks well placed to surpass that number comfortably.
The reason behind Real Madrid’s improvement
Attacking set pieces are led at Valdebebas by Pedro Machado, with the whole coaching staff involved and Mourinho himself giving the final green light on every routine.
Defending them, meanwhile, falls to Sami Khedira, though it is treated as a collective effort. Mourinho’s appreciation of that teamwork was clear when Bellingham headed in a Guler free kick against Espanyol, prompting the manager to leap up and embrace his assistants.
Machado, one of Mourinho’s most trusted lieutenants, has followed him from Fenerbahce to Benfica and now Madrid, part of a backroom team blending experience with young, ambitious talent.
On the pitch, Guler is the undisputed master when available, his left foot the key weapon, with Bernardo Silva, Trent Alexander-Arnold and even Diomande also trusted to initiate attacks.
Such meticulous strategy has helped Real Madrid turn into a potent side from set-pieces this season.
