Three biggest challenges that await Mourinho as Real Madrid reign begins | OneFootball

Forget the grand unveilings and the promises that usually accompany a managerial appointment at Real Madrid, as Jose Mourinho’s return is not about sentiment. 

Rather, it is about finding answers to problems that have lingered despite a squad packed with world-class talent.

Few clubs enter a new season with expectations as demanding as Real Madrid. That is exactly where Mourinho begins his second spell at the Santiago Bernabeu: expectations and demands.

The squad has enough quality to compete for La Liga, the UEFA Champions League and every domestic honour, but quality alone has not translated into consistency; Real Madrid have learned that the hard way. 

Simply put, tactical imbalance, recurring injuries and uncertainty on a few areas have repeatedly disrupted Real Madrid’s rhythm over the past year.

Now, Mourinho has never been a coach who believes talent solves everything. 

His best teams have always been built on structure, discipline and clearly defined roles. 

Hence, if Real Madrid are to return to dominating both Spain and Europe, three issues demand immediate attention.

Vinicius–Mbappe harmony

Mourinho will need to work on establishing harmony between Vinicius and Mbappe. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)

There is no debate over the individual quality of Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe. Both belong among the finest attackers in world football and possess the ability to decide matches with a single moment of brilliance. 

The real question, however, is whether they can consistently raise each other rather than operate as separate match-winners.

That balance has proved surprisingly difficult to achieve.

Carlo Ancelotti searched for solutions through positional freedom. Xabi Alonso experimented with different attacking structures, while even short-term tactical adjustments under Alvaro Arbeloa failed to establish lasting chemistry between the pair.

Notably, the statistics clearly explain what has often been visible during matches. 

Despite sharing the pitch regularly, Vinicius and Mbappe exchange remarkably just seven passes on an average between them, often drifting towards identical spaces on the left side instead of complementing each other’s movements. 

Hence, when two players naturally attack the same channel, Real Madrid become easier to defend.

Perhaps the most revealing detail is that Madrid have occasionally looked more cohesive whenever only one of the two starts. 

Ball circulation improves, pressing becomes more organised and midfield runners such as Bellingham and Valverde enjoy greater freedom to attack central spaces.

For all intents and purposes, that does not mean Mourinho should separate them. It means he must create a framework that allows both to flourish together.

Managing fitness

Real Madrid suffered 57 injuries last season. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

If tactics created one problem last season, injuries created another that was arguably even more damaging, as Real Madrid’s medical department spent much of the campaign firefighting. 

The squad accumulated a whopping 57 injuries, while only three senior players completed the season without suffering a significant physical setback. 

Understandably, it became almost impossible for any coach to build momentum when key players disappeared from the starting eleven every few weeks.

Ferland Mendy endured five separate injury absences, Eder Militão again struggled with fitness issues, while Rodrygo and several other first-team regulars missed crucial stretches of the campaign. 

Those interruptions affected not only results but also tactical continuity.

Recognising the scale of the issue, the club responded by restructuring its medical and performance departments during the summer. 

New staff, however, will not automatically solve a problem influenced by modern football’s relentless calendar.

Real Madrid are expected to compete across La Liga, the Champions League, domestic cup competitions and international tournaments. 

Hence, recovery windows continue to shrink, while high-intensity football places greater strain on players than ever before.

With players such as Dean Huijsen, Antonio Rudiger, Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham expected to shoulder enormous responsibility again, protecting the squad physically may prove just as important as any tactical innovation.

Determine the right wing role

Mourinho needs a clear candidate for the right wing role. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

While attention naturally focuses on Mbappe and Vinicius, another question remains unanswered on the opposite side of the attack.

Who owns the right wing?

It is a position with plenty of candidates but no undisputed solution.

To begin with, Arda Guler continues to mature into one of Europe’s brightest young creators, yet asking him to carry that responsibility every week may be premature. 

Bernardo Silva brings intelligence, experience and technical quality, although his most influential football has often come through central areas. 

Rodrygo remains capable of moments of brilliance but frequently drifts inside searching for the ball, while Brahim Diaz offers unpredictability without always delivering consistency. 

Endrick provides energy and directness but is still adapting to the tactical demands of elite European football, and Franco Mastantuono remains a long-term investment rather than an immediate guarantee.

Choosing between them is about far more than attacking output.

Mourinho’s wide players have traditionally been expected to contribute defensively, protect the full-backs and stretch opposition defences without abandoning their positional discipline. 

This is why the right winger must become the link between midfield and attack, allowing the rest of the system to function naturally.

Constant rotation may keep everyone involved, but frequent changes can also prevent partnerships from developing. Whoever earns Mourinho’s trust must provide reliability as much as creativity.