Mourinho begins second Real Madrid reign with Barca in his sights

Jose Mourinho begins his second stint at Real Madrid this weekend in Barcelona, aiming to dethrone Barcelona as the leading club in Spain. The 63-year-old Portuguese coach is charged with restoring the intensity and attitude that defined his first Madrid reign between 2010-2013, which was marked by two trophyless seasons. Real Madrid, the 15-time European champions, have faced dressing room turbulence, with tensions between players and coaches hampering their ability to balance defensively as they try to accommodate their attacking stars.

Mourinho, who cites his experience in England, Italy, Turkey and elsewhere, is determined to create a culture of work, responsibility, and ambition. His first appointment at Madrid ended with a record 100 points in the 2011-12 season, but his return is marked by a new challenge to catch up with Barcelona, who spent heavily this summer.

Real Madrid has also made significant investments this summer, including signing record-breaking winger Yan Diomande. Whether Mourinho can bring enough discipline and unity to the team to challenge Barcelona remains to be seen, as they prepare for their first Clasico of the season against Barcelona in late October.