Jose Mourinho, head coach of Real Madrid
Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Back in May, when the possibility of Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid became increasingly serious, the Portuguese made two requests: a voice in transfers and respect for the established hierarchy within the sporting structure.
Now, according to AS, his influence can already be seen in both areas, with Real Madrid handing him total control in the matters. Now, everything goes through Mourinho.
Listening to everyone, deciding himself
Since returning to the club, the Portuguese listens, consults, compares opinions and trusts the people around him.
His staff has been carefully assembled, from familiar faces to new additions such as Sami Khedira, who has taken on an important role alongside him.
But when it comes to making the final call, Mourinho is the one pressing the button.
People inside Valdebebas say his influence is noticeable in the day-to-day running of the club. He has built close relationships with those around him while making sure everyone understands the hierarchy.
Jose Mourinho, head coach of Real Madrid
Mourinho has been given the keys to the kingdom. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)
He delegates, but less than some of his predecessors. Not because he distrusts those around him, but because he wants to keep everything under control. His aim is to prevent situations that could destabilise the team.
That approach extends beyond the rules he has introduced around nutrition, injury recovery, punctuality and team meals. Mourinho wants the entire environment tightly organised.
A say in the transfer market
Mourinho’s influence was already evident in late May, when he submitted a technical report outlining the positions and profiles he wanted the club to strengthen.
He did not necessarily provide a list of names. Instead, he defined the types of players he wanted and helped shape a squad designed to have depth in every position.
And when he has intervened directly, his opinion has been taken seriously. The renewal of Vinicius Jr. and the decision to keep Thiago Pitarch in the squad are examples of areas where his voice has carried weight.
The final decisions still come from the club’s hierarchy, naturally, but Mourinho has the influence he asked for.
The academy is no different
His authority also extends to the academy. “Let’s see what Mou says” has become a recurring phrase among the young players.
Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid manager
Making his presence felt. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
The academy prospects are getting opportunities during pre-season, but Mourinho is choosing exactly which players he wants around the first team after studying them and reviewing the reports provided by the club.
It’s not simply a matter of asking for a certain type of youngster to fill out a training session or squad list. Mourinho is choosing specific players he wants to work with, particularly now that he has spent much of the summer observing the club’s most promising talents.
Training changes
Training has brought another defining feature of Mourinho’s return: a lot of intensity. Double sessions have become a regular part of the schedule.
Antonio Pintus remains involved, as expected, but Mourinho has also brought in Antonio Dias, his own fitness coach.
That combination has made everyday life at Valdebebas extremely demanding, with the squad being pushed physically from the outset.
Tactical work is also taking place, but the physical emphasis has been particularly noticeable during these opening months.
That is the defining feature of Mourinho’s new Real Madrid so far: a team in which almost everything ultimately passes through the Portuguese coach.
Real Madrid youngster set to become the club’s starting centre-back after impressive display vs Deportivo
Dean Huijsen, Real Madrid star
Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images
The new season is just around the corner and Real Madrid are certainly a team to watch, having signed no less than six new players during the summer transfer window so far.
Coach Jose Mourinho is already happy with the progress his team has made so far but he has some important decisions to make heading into the new season.
One of the main dilemmas Mourinho will face is in central defence, having roped in Ibrahima Konate to add more competition for Dean Huijsen, Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao.
Huijsen has the upper hand
For now, Huijsen appears to be the leading candidate to start as Real Madrid’s main left-sided centre-back, reports MARCA.
Dean Huijsen, Federico Valverde and Raul Asensio of Real Madrid
Huijsen should start the season as a first-team regular. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
This is not too surprising given that Huijsen is the only centre-back Real Madrid, who is comfortable with both feet and is not purely right-footed.
More importantly, Huijsen has shown some strong momentum lately, notably producing a stellar display in the recent friendly against Deportivo La Coruna.
In his first start under Mourinho at the Teresa Herrera Trophy, the Spaniard marshalled the defence superbly, registering seven successful defensive actions without losing a single duel.
It was a performance that reinforced the belief that Huijsen still possesses the potential to become an undisputed starter and a long-term cornerstone of the Real Madrid backline.
Embracing the weight of the number four
Dean Huijsen of Real Madrid
Can Huijsen take on the mantle of becoming Real Madrid’s defensive leader? (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Huijsen’s growing importance is also reflected in his decision to take on the iconic number four shirt following David Alaba’s departure.
The number carries enormous weight at Real Madrid, having been worn by legends such as Sergio Ramos and Fernando Hierro, and Huijsen has embraced that responsibility.
“It was always my dream to play for Real Madrid and wear the number four. As a child, my idol was always Sergio Ramos,” he wrote on social media.
The one obstacle Huijsen must overcome is his injury record, which disrupted his previous campaign and even cost him a place in Spain’s World Cup squad.
He again trained alone for much of last week due to discomfort, underlining that his physical condition remains the key area to address.
Reunited with Mourinho, who he worked under at Roma, Huijsen now has the perfect platform to redeem himself and establish himself as Real Madrid’s defensive leader for years to come.