Mourinho seeks solutions to Real's problems after Atlético defeat — MyJoyOnline

In Madrid, Spain, coach José Mourinho is trying to fix Real Madrid's problems after a derby defeat to Atlético. After seven rounds, the Madrid side are fourth in La Liga, six points behind leaders Barcelona.

According to MyJoyOnline, Mourinho returned to Real Madrid in the summer, 13 years after the end of his first spell at the club. The Portuguese specialist signed a three-year contract, and the club is counting on him after two trophyless seasons. Real Madrid will next play Villarreal at home on October 10, before facing Barcelona away two weeks later.

Problems in midfield

Against Atlético, Real Madrid were unable to control the game sufficiently in midfield. Mourinho fielded Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde in the holding roles, while Jude Bellingham operated further forward. This combination gave the team energy and defensive solidity, but did not provide control of the tempo or enough attacks from deep.

One option to boost creativity is Bernardo Silva, who came on only for the final eight minutes of the derby. Another attacking solution could be Arda Güler. The report notes that the coach does not necessarily need to abandon a system with two holding midfielders, but the team needs to control the course of matches better.

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Attack and play after losing the ball

Another challenge remains the interaction between Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Bellingham. In the derby, Mbappé rarely received the ball and had no noticeable impact on the game, while Vinícius was substituted shortly after Dean Huijsen was sent off early in the second half. Real Madrid need to use the individual qualities of the three players more effectively so that they complement rather than hinder one another in attack.

Mourinho may also use 21-year-old Carlos Espí more often. The forward scored the winning goal in the 90th minute of his league debut against Espanyol, and later scored in stoppage time against Elche.

Another problem is the team's actions after losing the ball. Atlético found space near Real Madrid's halfway line and transitioned quickly into attack. Tchouaméni and Valverde must provide protection when the team presses high and commits many players forward.