He real Madrid He faces his visit to Roma at a delicate moment in the season, with the need to achieve a victory that reduces the tension around the team. The white team arrives at the match on the second day of the Champions League after a hard-fought victory against Villarreal and with Barcelona six points away in LaLiga, just two weeks before the Classic.
The sporting situation has also been complicated by the arbitration controversy. The Madrid club maintains its criticism after Vinícius’ goal was disallowed in the match against Villarreal and the Brazilian’s subsequent expulsion for pulling an opponent’s hair during the action. José Mourinho chose not to appear before the media after the match to avoid statements that could lead to a sanction.
A victory in Rome would be a relief for the Portuguese coach and his players. Mourinho, who led the Italian team for two and a half seasons between 2021 and 2024, once again finds himself with a team that he knows well, but that now needs to overcome its own difficulties.
Mourinho seeks solutions for a Real Madrid without a clear direction
The Portuguese coach arrived at the Santiago Bernabéu with the aim of returning Real Madrid to the conquest of major titles after two seasons without great success. However, the team has not yet found a consistent playing identity and frequently depends on the individual actions of its main stars.
In the midfield, Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni have not managed to establish themselves as a couple capable of generating play and providing continuity to attacks, especially against rivals who defend in an orderly manner. Arda Güler is one of the few players who manages to provide clarity when he goes back to receive the ball, while Mourinho has barely had Bernardo Silva.
Vinícius’ situation also worries Real Madrid fans. The Brazilian has one goal and three assists in nine official matches and has become one of the most questioned players by part of the fans, who have whistled and booed him.
Mourinho has publicly defended the forward and has insisted that he wants to help him recover his best version. However, the growth of the young Ivorian Yan Diomandé, who started against Villarreal in place of Vinícius, opens the debate about who will occupy the left wing against Roma.
Mbappé achieves the goals, but Madrid needs more
Kylian Mbappé is also in the media spotlight for his off-field activities, including his nights out and his bike rides while injured. Mourinho came out in his defense before the game against Villarreal and assured that the Frenchman would play because he was convinced that he had not failed Real Madrid.
On the pitch, Mbappé’s numbers are better than Vinícius’. The French forward has eight goals and two assists in nine official matches, although he has not yet unquestionably assumed the role of leader that was expected of him after his signing.
Furthermore, the team’s problems are not limited to the attack. Real Madrid has only managed to keep a clean sheet in two of its nine official matches, a statistic that reflects the defensive difficulties that Mourinho has not yet managed to correct.
Added to the errors at the back is pressure after irregular losses, which only appear at certain moments of the matches. These are problems that the team already had during the periods of Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa and that continue without a clear solution.
The match against Roma is thus presented as an important test for Mourinho’s project. A new setback could increase the pressure on the coach and his players just before the Liga Clásico on October 25 at the Camp Nou. Roma, despite drawing against Como in their last match, occupies third place in Serie A, just two points behind the leader, Inter Milan.
