Mourinho's Influence Emerges at Real Madrid

Portuguese coach José Mourinho continues to work on building his new project with Real Madrid, placing winning and achieving positive results at the top of his priorities during the early part of the season, while also striving to implement his ideas and shape the team in the way he desires.

Mourinho faces a challenge regarding the physical readiness of his team, with some players arriving late to the preparation period, while others have participated in more training sessions and friendly matches. Despite this, Real Madrid managed to secure a 2-1 victory over Espanyol at the start of their La Liga campaign.

The Portuguese coach is focusing on enhancing the competitive spirit within the dressing room by instilling a sense of "hunger" and ambition among the players, especially after the team has missed out on some major trophies over the past two seasons. Mourinho believes that the desire to compete for titles will be a key element in building his new team.

Mourinho's fingerprints were evident in the match against Espanyol, reflected in the team's physical and combative level. Real Madrid excelled in several metrics, notably in duels, recovered balls, and pressing after losing possession, confirming that the Portuguese coach desires a strong and disciplined team across the pitch.

Mourinho is looking to instill a new culture within the team that emphasizes discipline and teamwork, starting from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois all the way to Kylian Mbappé. Courtois confirmed after the victory that all players "are heading in the same direction," highlighting the importance of the discipline demanded by the coach.

Real Madrid faces a tough schedule ahead of the international break, with seven matches lined up, including several away fixtures, before concluding this phase with a strong derby match against Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium.

Mourinho hopes to collect as many points as possible during this period, benefiting from positive results to provide more stability to his new project, before the team gradually reaches peak technical and physical readiness.