Vinicius Jr., Brazil and Real Madrid player
Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images
It has been an unusually long September international break, but Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho will have begun preparing for club football to resume this weekend.
Los Blancos are gradually getting their squad back together after the international break, with Denzel Dumfries, Brahim Diaz, Bernardo Silva, Vinicius Junior and Endrick having now completed their national-team commitments.
All five players are set to return to Madrid, giving Mourinho an important group back as preparations resume ahead of a difficult game against Villarreal.
Mourinho’s numbers begin to improve
The timing is particularly useful for Mourinho because international breaks can leave coaches with very little time to work with their full squads.
Dumfries and Bernardo are two players whose roles remain particularly interesting.
Bernardo Silva, Real Madrid player
Bernardo Silva could become an important player for Real Madrid in the coming weeks. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
The Dutchman provides Mourinho with a powerful option on the right, while Bernardo’s ability to control possession could become increasingly valuable as Madrid continue searching for the right midfield balance.
Vinicius returning is equally significant. The Brazilian has endured a difficult opening period of the season by his standards.
Getting back to Madrid early and having the extra days of training could be beneficial in helping him rediscover his best level.
Endrick’s return could be especially important on an individual level.
The 20-year-old has barely featured for Madrid this season, playing only four official minutes, with injury also affecting his opportunities.
Endrick, Real Madrid player
Will Endrick get an opportunity under Jose Mourinho?. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
His lack of football has already created questions about whether another loan could become necessary in January.
The coming weeks therefore represent an important period for the young striker. With Kylian Mbappe still recovering from an injury, he could get an opportunity against Villarreal.
Brahim’s return gives Mourinho another attacking option, while having five internationals back should also allow the manager to try out tactical ideas.
International breaks often force clubs to prepare for matches with players arriving in stages and carrying different workloads.
The length of this break has almost made this feel like a mini pre-season, and it remains to be seen what improvements we see from the team once club football resumes.
Thiago Pitarch of Real Madrid
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
Jose Mourinho’s selections so far do not suggest that the manager counts on academy talents, and his ideology is understandable given the transfer domination and freedom Real Madrid possess.
His stance, however, is the polar opposite of last season’s coaches Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, both of whom did count on academy names in some capacity.
Of the various players handed a chance last season, Thiago Pitarch stood out as one of the creme-de-la-creme as he even established himself as a starter at one point and brought to the table what the team lacked in midfield – control and creativity.
Mourinho blocked Pitarch’s transfer
Jose Mourinho, Manager of Real Madrid
Mourinho personally blocked Pitarch’s departure. (Photo by Francisco Macia/Getty Images)
So far this season, Jose Mourinho has handed the young midfielder no minutes and there has been no sign to suggest that he counts on the player.
As reported by Diario AS in a recent update, however, it was reportedly Mourinho who personally blocked the youngster’s departure in the summer.
Expecting a drought for minutes this season, Pitarch was in talks with Fulham over a move in the summer. In fact, the deal was even in the final stages and quite advanced.
At that point, however, Mourinho entered the scene and blocked Pitarch’s exit, a surprising development. After all, he has barely turned to the youngster so far this campaign.
A chance soon?
Thiago Pitarch of Real Madrid
Pitarch could get a chance soon. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Real Madrid’s midfield woes this season are well-documented. In just the opening phase of the campaign, the team’s inability to control games and keep possession has been a stark finding, and Mourinho and Co. are working hard to find a solution.
The combination of Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde was the manager’s preferred double pivot for big games, but they have failed to bring the required technical quality on the ball when fielded together in recent games.
There is, thus, talk of a possible change in midfield dynamics. Bernardo Silva is the likely candidate to see more minutes, but Pitarch could make a case for himself too.
After a minute-starved start to the season, the youngster has restarted playing regularly with the Castilla side and has again earned the spotlight. Needless to say, Mourinho did not block his departure for no reason and may well turn to him in the coming months.