Jose Mourinho returned to Real Madrid in July after 13 years away and signed a three-year contract. Seven league games in, they sit fourth in La Liga with 15 points from five wins and two defeats, and the defeat at Atletico Madrid before the break was the latest reminder that results alone are not fixing the performance issues.
BBC Sport's analysis put the problem in plain terms: "Mourinho doesn't necessarily need to abandon the double pivot, but he does need to find a way for Real to have more control of matches." That is the central issue. Real have enough quality to stay in the hunt, but too many of their games still turn into open exchanges instead of controlled spells.
Mourinho's midfield problem
The concern is not about talent. It is about where the match is being played. When Real cannot settle possession in midfield, the game becomes stretched, and that makes it easier for opponents to force transitions and punish mistakes.
The table reflects that tension. Fourth place and 15 points is a workable start, but it is not the sort of platform that lets a side dominate weekly. Barcelona's six-point lead at the top also shows how much ground Real still have to make up if they want the league to bend their way.
BBC Sport's view on the double pivot also matters because it points to a fix inside the current structure rather than a full rethink. Mourinho does not need to tear up the setup. He needs it to keep the ball better, protect the team when possession is lost and stop matches from opening up so quickly.
The attack still needs a cleaner fit
The same pattern shows up higher up the pitch. Against Atletico, Kylian Mbappe was largely ineffective and hardly touched the ball, while Vinicius Jr went off shortly after Dean Huijsen's red card early in the second half. Those are not the signs of a front line that has settled into a clear rhythm yet.
Mbappe still carries strong numbers, with a 7.98 La Liga rating and seven league goals. Vinicius Jr has a 7.02 rating and only one league goal. The issue is not whether they can decide matches, it is whether Mourinho can make them function together without blunting the rest of the side.
BBC Sport's other line gets to that point directly: "Mourinho needs to ensure the trio complement rather than crowd each other." That is where the next step sits, because Real do not lack options. They need the midfield and the forwards to connect in a way that gives them control as well as threat.
Real are back after a three-week break and host Villarreal on Saturday, 10 October. The response from that game will tell us whether the break helped settle the structure or whether the same control problems are still there.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
