Mbappe Vinicius Bellingham are integral to Real Madrid’s plans with Jose Mourinho, but the new manager admits finding the right system to play all three stars will be tough.
In a statement ahead of Real Madrid’s La Liga debut against Espanyol on Saturday, Mourinho returned for a second stint at the helm in June. The Portuguese coach admitted that the three are “not incompatible” in his system, but confirmed he will need to make some changes if he wishes to have all three in the squad XI.
“They are fantastic players and fantastic players like to play with fantastic players,” Mourinho said. He said that good players can get frustrated when they’re playing with teammates that aren’t at the same level.
Domestics will be the main weapon in Real Madrid’s arsenal as Mourinho looks to recapture the team’s home superiority with Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham. Barcelona have won the last two Spanish league championships and this season will be Madrid’s challenge.
Mourinho’s tenure was a troubled one, and reportedly was beset by fan unrest and divisions over the team, during his last season in charge. The challenge for the manager now is to find a balance between individual quality and a structure that can give him consistent results.
The combination of Mbappe in the centre of the attack and Vinicius in wide spaces is an attack threat. Bellingham’s versatility in the centre of the park and his ability to move into the attacking position is another significant advantage for Mourinho.
The Portuguese coach is confident that the team will be able to play in a coordinated fashion however, some adjustments in their positioning and tactical discipline will be needed in order to get the balance right.
Real Madrid will face Espanyol in their first La Liga match of the season, and for Mourinho, it will be his first match to test the ability of his star trio.
