The Metropolitano derby will provide the first real snapshot of José Mourinho’s Real Madrid 2.0. How the team gets there, and more importantly, how it emerges from it, is already a major talking point at Valdebebas.
That is why Mourinho and his staff have spent weeks focused on one idea and driving it home to the players: reach the international break on a high. Ideally, a very high high.
In other words, win everything leading up to the derby and then make a statement in it. Real Betis at La Cartuja and Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabéu offer the opportunity for a dream five-for-five start in LaLiga, which would further strengthen the foundations being laid by the new coaching staff.
Those foundations include a new defensive system that produced a clean sheet against Málaga, as well as players who are still working toward full fitness, such as Yan Diomande. The rest is up to the players. If, as Thibaut Courtois says, the squad’s “hunger” is still there, alive and functioning, Real Madrid has every reason to feel confident.
Atlético warning from last season
Mourinho insists he only watched the previous season of what is now his team superficially, specifically to avoid comparisons. He had just arrived at a turbulent Benfica, but surely he noticed the 5-2 defeat Xabi Alonso suffered against Atlético Madrid.
It was the beginning of the end.
Mourinho, before the match against Málaga.Chema Moya
That result remains a powerful warning because it destabilized a project that was still in its infancy and desperately needed time to settle. There are clear parallels with the enormous challenge Mourinho now faces, although he has made an excellent start.
That is why maintaining the current sense of happiness and momentum is so important.
Three weeks with plenty at stake
The derby is the dividing line. After it comes an international break that could either be a happy one or a very difficult one. The pressure is increasing because there will be fewer opportunities to work things out on the training ground at Valdebebas.
Mourinho made the point with a touch of irony before the game against Espanyol.
“We enter a period of games every three days and then they go away for what is supposedly three weeks of vacation… You never know how they will come back,” he warned.
Dean Huijsen clears the ball against Real Sociedad.JESUS ALVAREZ ORIHUELA
That is not insignificant, although amid the international departures, Mourinho appears likely to have a few players available who, at first glance, might not have been expected to stay.
Antonio Rüdiger will remain at Valdebebas after stepping away from the German national team, while Dean Huijsen is unlikely to return to the Spain squad for the first call-up following the World Cup, despite his impressive start to the season.
There is also the question of Thomas Tuchel’s decision regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Carlo Ancelotti’s plans for Endrick, who is still recovering from his muscular problems. Mourinho, however, has already spoken about his good relationship with the Italian.
These will be three weeks without club competition, but they will hardly be uneventful.
Some players will use the break to continue adapting to their new life in white, including Carlos Espí, while there will also be new projects to develop, such as Sergio Martínez, who has already made his debut under Mourinho.
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.