Mourinho given blueprint to make Real Madrid match PSG’s collective intensity

Jose Mourinho’s biggest challenge at Real Madrid will be rebuilding the team’s identity and discipline rather than simply managing a squad packed with talent, Spanish journalist Alvaro Benito says.

Real Madrid have strengthened every area of the pitch with six major signings, creating a squad that appears capable of competing for every trophy. However, Benito believes the team could still fall apart unless Mourinho establishes a clear structure and convinces his players to commit fully to it.

The club’s summer recruitment has included three defenders: Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate and Marc Cucurella. Bernardo Silva has arrived to bolster the midfield, while the attack has been reinforced by promising forwards Carlos Espi and Yan Diomande.

Real Madrid also tried to sign Rodri, who ultimately chose to move to Barcelona. Martin Zubimendi’s name has returned to the negotiating table, although no final agreement has been reached.

Mourinho remains the central figure in the club’s attempted transformation. He has been tasked with restoring energy and competitiveness to a side which, according to Benito, has appeared to lose its identity.

Speaking on the programme El Larguero, Benito said Mourinho’s main task would be psychological and organisational as much as tactical.

“He must focus on order and sacrifice, in defence and attack. We are talking about a basic structure and the players’ total commitment to it. That is Mourinho’s main job: convincing people of what is required to compete in the modern game,” he said.

Benito pointed to the contrast between Real Madrid’s leading players and their performances for their national teams. Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe both excelled for their countries at the World Cup, he noted, but neither had produced the same level of collective performance after returning to the Real Madrid shirt.

He warned that the club’s large investment would count for little if the team failed to play with the required intensity.

“If the team continues to play in this way, its journey will come to an end. Real Madrid have a squad capable of competing for everything this season, but only if they meet the demands Mourinho will impose,” Benito said.

The former player also cautioned against a repeat of the problems seen during the previous two campaigns.

“If the same mistake is repeated for three consecutive years, and by the 10th round we see a team that is relaxed without the ball, with a degree of chaos and no plan for building attacks or organising the press, then the outcome is already decided,” he added.

Benito highlighted Paris Saint-Germain as an example of how a team can reject traditional assumptions and still operate effectively in every phase of the game.

“Look at Paris Saint-Germain. They have destroyed all the myths in football. They have demolished the idea that you need a traditional defensive midfielder,” he said.

He added: “They have young players such as Fabian Ruiz, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele, as well as full-backs who constantly push forward. This team is like a machine when it comes to defending and attacking. It disproves every preconceived idea about what a team should be. Here, everyone has to give their absolute best.”

Benito’s final message was aimed directly at the Real Madrid dressing room. He said every player must understand his responsibilities, from creating width in attack to protecting the space behind the defence.

“Everyone must be in tune. Each player has to know who is responsible for widening the attack and who is responsible for securing the defensive depth. The passes must be quick and accurate, and the team must be in a good position when building attacks. It cannot simply be about passing the ball randomly to see who can produce a moment of brilliance or which player has the most talent. That is not enough to compete with the best.”

His assessment was reinforced by the warning shared during the discussion: “A priori, el Madrid es un equipo que se va a romper. Deben sostener el equipo TODOS; solo hay que mirar el PSG… un equipo que ha desmontado todos los mitos” and “TODOS deben APRETAR”.