Real Madrid News
Real Madrid’s message to Jose Mourinho regarding Vinicius and Mbappe – report
Jose Mourinho is on the verge of becoming the next manager at Real Madrid, as he preps for a return, 13 years after his first stint at Santiago Bernabeu came to an end.
Things will be significantly more difficult for Mourinho this time around, as he faces the prospect of a Real Madrid team dealing with a lack of performances on the pitch and constant tension in the dressing room.
Real Madrid’s first assignment for Mourinho
According to Diario AS (h/t Madrid Zone), Real Madrid have informed Mourinho of his first priority assignment after he gets appointed as the new coach.
His first job is to pacify the dressing room and make sure the team’s two biggest stars – Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. – work together in the same team.
The lack of connection between the two is a key reason why Real Madrid have struggled to dominate this season.
While Mbappe performed well during the first half of the season, Vinicius Jr. couldn’t quite make an impact. Things have been the exact opposite in the second half. Mourinho must make sure both perform well at the same time.
No plans to sell Mbappe or Vinicius
The report adds that Real Madrid have no plans to sell either Vinicius Jr. or Mbappe this coming summer.
This is despite the fact that Mbappe has faced immense criticism, with fans accusing him of lacking any real intent or commitment to the team, while others have blamed him for breaking the harmony of the dressing room.
It is clear that Real Madrid do not see the ego of Vinicius Jr. and Mbappe being a problem, and they trust that Mourinho will be able to pacify both of them, using his leadership experience.
The Portuguese is indeed used to handling big egos, having managed the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Pepe and Marcelo during his first stint at Real Madrid.
Real Madrid were hit with a speed bump after their perfect start to the season, with Real Betis offering an important reality check to Jose Mourinho’s team.
After three wins from three to start the season, Madrid ran into a resolute Betis side at the Villamarin in a game where the ball simply refused to go in for them.
On the one occasion that it did, Carlos Espi’s sensational overhead strike was ruled out for a marginal offside.
Los Blancos lost the game 1-0 to the Andalusian side, but one of the few positives from the game was the continued good form of Arda Guler.
Even with the team struggling around him, the Turkey midfielder once again showed why he believes this could be the year he takes a major step forward under Jose Mourinho.
Guler making his opportunities count
According to AS, Guler remains convinced that working with Mourinho can accelerate his development and help him reach another level competitively.
His confidence comes at a time when his performances are making an increasingly strong argument for greater responsibility.
The numbers from the Betis defeat underline the kind of game the Turkey international had, despite the result not going his way.
Guler created seven chances, more than any other Madrid player, while also recovering five balls, the second-highest total among the team’s outfield players.
That made Mourinho’s decision to substitute him midway through the second half particularly perplexing.
The coach’s concern was Guler’s yellow card and the possibility of Madrid going down to 10 men. However, this is not the first time the 21-year-old has been removed despite playing well.
Against Espanyol, he was also substituted after around an hour despite assisting Jude Bellingham and being one of Madrid’s strongest performers.
Mourinho has a difficult decision
Guler remains Mourinho’s starting option in the right-wing role, but Yan Diomande’s presence creates obvious competition after Madrid invested €125 million plus bonuses to sign the Ivorian.
The encouraging part is that Guler appears determined to respond through performances rather than worry about the competition.
He is taking his chances and, at times, playing at a creative tempo his team-mates are struggling to match. That should strengthen his position rather than weaken it.
Guler believes Mourinho can help him develop and make a significant competitive leap this season. So far, there is reason to share that confidence.
The next stage is about turning impressive stretches into sustained influence over complete matches.
Guler’s on-pitch relationship with Mbappe is probably the best two-man relationship in the team at the moment.
So far, the Turk has done nothing wrong to make Mourinho consider dropping him, and it remains to be seen how many more minutes he gets with Diomande’s threat looming large.
