Real Madrid insiders raise major concern over player attitude under Mourinho: ‘Exactly the same as last year’
· Yahoo Sports
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Real Madrid’s defeat to Atletico Madrid has reignited concerns inside the club that Jose Mourinho may be facing the same problems that undermined the team last season.
According to Mario Cortegana of The Athletic, some sources around Real Madrid believe the attitude within the squad has barely changed despite the arrival of a new coaching staff.
That is particularly troubling given what Mourinho inherited.
Real Madrid finished the previous campaign without a trophy for the second consecutive season, while dressing-room tensions contributed to a turbulent year and ultimately Xabi Alonso’s departure.
Madrid’s midfield problem is becoming impossible to ignore
One of the concerns raised inside the club is the lack of authority in midfield.
Real Madrid were unable to establish control against Atletico, and that issue has led to comparisons with Barcelona’s current midfield options.
A source close to the situation pointed specifically to the “lack of control in midfield” and “attitude of the players” being “exactly the same as last year.”
Real Madrid insiders have voiced their concerns. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
The same source then made a striking comparison with Madrid’s biggest domestic rival, saying,
“You see Rodri playing for Barcelona and it’s exactly what’s missing here. This international break is going to be incredibly long.”
It is a particularly revealing assessment because Mourinho’s appointment was supposed to address precisely this kind of problem.
The Portuguese coach arrived after a season in which the team struggled to consistently impose themselves in high-octane matches.
The Atletico defeat offered little evidence of that changing, as even before Dean Huijsen’s red card altered the contest, Real Madrid had struggled to dictate the game or create enough danger.
Refereeing is not the answer to Madrid’s bigger questions
The reaction to the derby has also followed a familiar pattern, as the officiating became a major talking point, with Real Madrid’s official television channel also criticising the decisions.
But there is a recognition within the club that focusing exclusively on refereeing risks missing the bigger sporting issue.
Mourinho has a huge task ahead of him. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)
Another source summed up that concern bluntly: “The problem with the referees matters less than the problem with the football.”
Notably, the club has already experienced the consequences of unresolved internal problems.
Now Real Madrid are fourth after seven league matches, six points behind Barcelona, although it is crucial to understand that this does not mean the Portuguese coach’s project can be judged after seven league matches.
But it does explain why the reaction to this particular defeat has been so strong.
Real Madrid did not bring Mourinho back merely to change the name on the dugout. The expectation was that he would restore control, intensity and a stronger collective identity.
If the concerns coming from inside the club continue, Mourinho’s biggest challenge may be changing a mentality that some around Madrid believe has survived the managerial change.