Vinicius return poses three questions for Mourinho at Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s eight-match winning run has established them as serious contenders for every major honour, but Roberto Morales believes the return of Vinicius Junior will test the balance Jose Mourinho has built at the club.

Madrid made it eight successive victories in La Liga and the Champions League with a 3-0 win against Valencia at Mestalla. Morales, a journalist with Spanish news agency EFE, said the team had shown collective strength while several players had also made significant individual progress.

“This team now wants everything: La Liga, the Champions League and every competition,” Morales said on his YouTube channel. “It is showing consistency and strength as a team, as well as the individual development of its players.”

However, he believes Mourinho’s most important challenge is finding a way to reintegrate Vinicius into a side that has performed impressively during his absence.

The Brazilian winger has missed Madrid’s past four La Liga matches after being sent off against Villarreal and serving a suspension. His expected return against Celta Vigo on Saturday, 21 November, at Santiago Bernabeu will raise three questions, according to Morales: whether Madrid can maintain the same level of performances and results, whether their collective spirit and defensive commitment will remain intact, and whether Mourinho can preserve the team’s tactical balance.

“I think the only thing missing from this team, and Mourinho’s biggest challenge at the moment, is finding a place within this outstanding collective performance for the piece that is still not working as it should: Vinicius,” Morales said.

“With Vinicius, the team must maintain the same level of collective spirit, play with the same quality and continue working in the same way during matches.”

He added: “We will see what still needs to be confirmed, and whether Jose Mourinho can maintain the same competitive level, collective solidarity and balance when Vinicius returns.”

Morales praised Madrid’s disciplined display against Valencia, which came without the Brazil international, and gave a positive assessment of the first four months of Mourinho’s current spell in charge.

His only criticism concerned the timing of the manager’s substitutions in the victory at Mestalla. Mourinho introduced Tiago and Espe in the 91st minute, when Madrid were already leading 3-0.

“The only thing that surprises me is how late Mourinho makes changes,” Morales said. “I think bringing on Tiago or Espe in the 91st minute was unnecessary. In a match that was effectively finished at 3-0, he could have introduced them much earlier.”

Morales said he would like to see those younger players given more time on the pitch, particularly in matches whose outcomes have already been settled, allowing key players to be rested.

Despite that reservation, he said Mourinho’s management of Real Madrid had been exemplary.

“Criticism cannot really be directed at him,” Morales said. “The truth is that Mourinho’s management of Real Madrid has been perfect.”