Jose Mourinho of Real Madrid
Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images
Real Madrid do not have long left before the new La Liga season officially gets underway, and Jose Mourinho will be keen to get off to a winning start.
The Portuguese tactician has had a productive pre-season period despite many players returning at different times.
Jose has also welcomed as many as six new players into his fold, with players like Carlos Espi and Denzel Dumfries in particular already making an impression.
Now, according to Javi Herraez on El Larguero, Mourinho has already established the core of his Real Madrid starting XI.
Six places already locked in
Thibaut Courtois, Marc Cucurella, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Yan Diomande and Jude Bellingham are viewed as Mourinho’s fixed starters.
This list already offers a clear picture of the players Mourinho sees as central to his project.
Courtois remains the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper, while Cucurella’s stature sees him walk into the team as the left-back.
Jose Mourinho and Florentino Perez of Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho has his untouchables at Real Madrid. (Photo courtesy: Real Madrid official website)
Further forward, the front four pick themselves, especially in the absence of Rodrygo, who is still recovering from an ACL injury.
The real competition is elsewhere
If those six positions are effectively settled, the biggest questions remain in the centre of defence, at right-back and in the double pivot.
Dean Huijsen, Ibrahima Konate and Antonio Rudiger are competing for centre-back places, while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Denzel Dumfries continue to battle on the right.
Midfield is even more open.
Fede Valverde, Bernardo Silva and Aurelien Tchouameni are all strong candidates to occupy the two deeper roles, with Eduardo Camavinga also pushing for minutes.
That means Mourinho still has major decisions to make before his strongest XI becomes completely clear.
Signings could further change the hierarchy
Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid player
Bellingham will be among regular starters under Mourinho. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
Although it looks unlikely, exits could prompt Madrid to make further signings in the market, which could further change the proposition.
Los Blancos have done exceedingly well in retaining most of their star players, especially Vinicius, and it would come as quite a surprise to see someone leave now.
It is clear that Jose has a list of candidates he considers favourites for his team, but there is also the risk of them getting too comfortable.
Even if those six are guaranteed starters, every single player needs to work and prove that they deserve to play every single minute.
A manager like Jose will not take long to rip up the list and write up a new one if things are not working, and it remains to be seen how his plans change over the course of the season.
Jose Mourinho talks Guler, Diomande, Bernardo and Flick: ‘No, I did not ask for him’
Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid manager
Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images
Jose Mourinho is all set to officially begin his second stint as manager of Real Madrid with a La Liga clash against Espanyol this weekend.
The Portuguese tactician has been very active during pre-season and managed to rally his troops around him to try to bring trophies back to Madrid.
Speaking in an interview with Josep Pedrerol for El Chiringuito TV, Mourinho has opened up on several key figures around Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Mourinho sees Guler following Modric path
Jose was particularly enthusiastic about Guler, hinting that he sees the Turkish international undergoing a positional evolution.
“I love Arda Guler. He’s a top player,” Mourinho said.
“I believe with him it’s going to be like Luka Modric. In the end he will end up as a number 8 and then as a 6,” he explained.
The comparison is not necessarily about the level of the two players but the evolution.
Jose clearly sees Guler becoming more influential from deeper areas as his tactical understanding grows through his career.
Diomande was wanted but not requested
Jose Mourinho, head coach of Real Madrid
Mourinho has nothing but praise for Arga Guler. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)
Mourinho also clarified his position on Yan Diomande’s signing.
“Did I ask for Yan Diomande’s signing? No, I did not ask, but I wanted him,” he explained.
The Portuguese coach then praised the winger’s versatility.
“He’s a great player who can play on both sides.”
Diomande may not have been a player Mourinho specifically demanded, but once the possibility emerged, the coach clearly supported the operation.
Bernardo can contribute anywhere
Mourinho was equally positive about Bernardo, who was a signing the manager personally pushed for.
“Bernardo Silva can contribute in everything,” he said.
Yan Diomande, Real Madrid player
Mourinho reveals he did not ask for Yan Diomande. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
That one line sums up how the Portuguese midfielder has been used by Mourinho so far in pre-season.
Bernardo has played everywhere from left-back and defensive midfield to attacking midfield, right wing and false nine for Pep Guardiola, making him one of the most flexible players in the squad.
Mourinho praises Flick’s Barcelona
The Real Madrid coach also offered a rare positive assessment of Barcelona.
Asked about Hansi Flick, Mourinho replied: “Yes, I like his Barcelona.”
He did not go on to elaborate further, but even that comes as quite a surprise considering the rivalry between the two clubs.
Jose Mourinho has taken over at Madrid at a time when Flick’s Barça have been dominating Spain, winning five out of the last possible six trophies.
If there is one man who knows how to win, though, it is the Portuguese mastermind, and it remains to be seen how his second stint at the club plays out.