Mourinho’s Madrid project unsettled by Betis defeat and Vinicius debate

Real Madrid suffered their first defeat of the season after only four matches as Jose Mourinho’s side were beaten by Real Betis at La Cartuja, with the result raising questions that went well beyond a disappointing scoreline.

Real Madrid created numerous chances during the match, including a stoppage-time penalty missed by Kylian Mbappe. However, the performance also prompted scrutiny of Mourinho’s tactical decisions and his handling of the club’s biggest names, particularly Vinicius Junior.

Mourinho arrived at Real Madrid with the stated aim of imposing greater discipline and restoring strength to the dressing room. Yet his decisions against Real Betis appeared to resemble those of the managers who preceded him.

Vinicius remained on the pitch despite contributing relatively little for much of the game, while Arda Guler was substituted after receiving a yellow card. Guler had been among Real Madrid’s most effective players on the night.

The Brazilian struggled in his individual battle with Hector Bellerin and was unable to make the most of the opportunities that came his way. His influence only became more apparent in the closing stages, when he created the chance for Ispe’s disallowed goal and won the penalty that Mbappe subsequently failed to convert.

The concern surrounding Vinicius is not limited to his display against Real Betis. He has completed the full 90 minutes in three of Real Madrid’s four matches this season. The only occasion on which he was taken off came in the closing stages against Real Sociedad, when his side were already leading 4-1.

Although Vinicius has scored once and provided two assists, his technical level remains below the standard supporters have come to expect from him, particularly when taking on opponents one-on-one.

Mbappe also endured an underwhelming evening. The France forward played the entire match but missed several clear chances, including the late penalty.

He has scored four goals in La Liga, but all of them have come at Real Madrid’s home ground, the Santiago Bernabeu. His influence away from home remains below expectations, despite the significant attention surrounding his arrival and performances.

Mourinho’s substitutions added to the debate. He chose to remove Guler after the Turkey international was booked, while keeping Vinicius on despite the Brazilian also having received a yellow card.

The Portuguese manager explained that he was concerned Guler could be sent off and said he believed the player was in a risky situation.

Mourinho was also outspoken in his post-match news conference, describing his players as “naive”. He said they had not dealt properly with some of the challenges and fouls they had experienced during the game.

At the same time, he defended the overall performance. Mourinho said he could find no clear reason for the defeat and insisted Real Madrid had played well both collectively and individually.

The loss has nevertheless created a larger question about Mourinho’s authority. Has he truly changed the balance inside the Real Madrid dressing room, or do the club’s leading players still exert enough influence to shape his decisions?

As Guler left the pitch and Vinicius remained until the final whistle, the decision revived an image that had already generated controversy last season.

Real Madrid have lost the match, while Mourinho now faces his first serious examination of authority. Vinicius, meanwhile, remains the difficult-to-ignore “elephant” in the white dressing room after only four games of the campaign.