CORNERFLICK
José Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid is being framed as a test of star management as much as tactics, with attention fixed on how he handles Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior.
Carpio points to ego issue
According to Futboli, Carlos Carpio believes Mourinho is the right coach for this stage of Madrid’s cycle, but says pride inside the dressing room could complicate matters. He argued that Mourinho can try several solutions to bring Mbappé and Vinícius into the same structure, but the players also have to accept the changes.
Carpio said Mourinho can make different adjustments, but stressed that Mbappé and Vinícius must buy into them as well. He added that the task will not be easy, even if he still sees the Portuguese coach as a good fit for Real Madrid at this moment.
Bench decisions seen as key
Monica Marchanti highlighted another part of Mourinho’s appeal: his willingness to drop big names if form dips. She said that is where Mourinho’s real value lies, because he can bench a player who has performed worse, even if it is Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham or Yan Diomandé.
The broader challenge, then, is not only how Mourinho sets the team up on the pitch. It is how he manages competition and status among a squad built around several prominent names.