LaLiga: Mourinho names five players to play Rodri’s role at Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho, the new coach of Real Madrid, expressed confidence that the team's star players could work well together as they prepared for their first La Liga match of the season against Espanyol. He mentioned his previous struggles to balance attack and defense during his first tenure at the club between 2010 and 2013, while highlighting the key role played by Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham in their recent success, including winning the Champions League in 2024.

However, Mourinho acknowledged that the club had not won a major trophy since Mbappe's arrival in 2022, and he stated that the team must improve defensively. Mourinho also warned the players about the challenges of selecting starters and substitutes, as he expects moments of frustration during the season. Despite the dressing room challenges from previous seasons, such as a dispute between Aurelien Tchouameni and Fede Valverde, Mourinho assured that there is no lingering bad blood among the players.

The 63-year-old Portuguese coach claimed he is starting from scratch, emphasizing that no action is needed to restore peace, as the team is now characterized by normality and friendship. Mourinho admitted he does not perceive the situation as pressure but rather as adrenaline, stating that feeling an adrenaline rush is essential for him to be at his best as a coach.