CORNERFLICK
Real Madrid's five straight wins have been linked in Spanish reporting to a sharp rise in the squad's physical condition under Jose Mourinho.
Fitness work behind the run
According to Thomas Gonzalez Martin in El Debate, Mourinho had long believed his tactical plan could only work if the players reached a high physical level. After about four months, the results are showing in a team that has beaten Villarreal, Roma, Sevilla, Leipzig and Barcelona in succession.
The Portuguese coach wants his side to press hard, win the ball back quickly, defend with the whole team and move from defence to attack at speed. That demands constant running, repeat sprints and concentration across the full match, and the club's conditioning staff have been working to meet those demands.
The staff and the players
Antonio Dias, Antonio Pintus and Sandro Carisso have been central to that work. Dias, one of Mourinho's trusted assistants, and Pintus, Real Madrid's long-serving fitness coach, have designed the physical programme, while Carisso has handled the players' physiological monitoring and the management of training loads.
El Debate also said the staff have focused on reducing muscle injuries after two seasons in which Real were hit by repeated setbacks. The improvement has been visible late in matches, with the team still able to keep its running intensity and create chances in the closing stages.
That has filtered through the squad. Yan Diamonde has won a place in the starting line-up through his work rate and defensive contribution, while Eduardo Camavinga is also pushing to regain his place after physical problems in previous seasons. Carlos Espe and Endrick have kept their fitness up for limited chances, and Bernardo Silva has begun to play a bigger role in midfield. Real now prepare for Racing Santander with Mourinho still wanting more tactical cohesion.