On July 23, local time, according to L'Équipe, after Mourinho's return to Real Madrid, he will focus on restoring the team's competitiveness. He hopes to re-establish high standards, strict discipline, and an intense training atmosphere, improving defensive stability and team spirit. Tactically, Mourinho plans to use Mbappe as the attacking core and adjust Bellingham's position to solve the integration problem between Mbappe, Vinicius, and Bellingham.

Since July 10, Mourinho has returned to a familiar environment—the Real Madrid training ground. This was where he worked daily for three consecutive seasons (2010-2013).

This summer, Mourinho's reappointment as Real Madrid's head coach surprised many within Madrid and was met with numerous questions. For critics who considered him outdated, Mourinho can point to Ancelotti's unexpected return to Real Madrid in 2021 as a rebuttal.

At that time, Ancelotti was also thought to be past his prime, but the Italian's second stint at Real Madrid was even more glorious than his first.

Aware of the importance of this opportunity, Mourinho returned to Madrid with a strong desire to prove himself, hoping to demonstrate that he is still a top coach.

In an interview with Real Madrid's official media, the Portuguese stated that he was "on a mission": "This is not just working for Real Madrid, but having the honor of working for Real Madrid. I am here to help everyone get better and to establish a work culture, sense of responsibility, and ambition that belongs here."

After two consecutive seasons without winning major trophies, Mourinho first wants to re-establish the high standards, strict discipline, and intense competitive atmosphere in daily training that Real Madrid once had.

Previously, Real Madrid's management and coaching staff had identified players' lack of commitment in training as one of the main reasons for the team's poor performance in the past two years.

This intention to restore professionalism has already been reflected since Real Madrid resumed training.

Last Monday, Real Madrid resumed training. Arnold, in an interview with Real Madrid's official media, said: "The training is very tough, very intense. The team demands very high standards from themselves."

Previously, most Real Madrid players typically arrived at the training ground only 15 or 30 minutes early, but last week, they arrived almost two hours early.

Mourinho has always been described by the outside world as a strong, even controversial coach, but this time, he does not intend to abandon his principles, while also hoping to adopt a more open and communicative management style.

His goal is not to unilaterally impose his ideas but to make players truly accept and actively execute his tactical philosophy.

To make Real Madrid competitive again, as he did during his first tenure, Mourinho has outlined several key tasks:

First, to restore the defensive stability that Real Madrid has gradually lost in recent years; second, to re-establish stronger tactical discipline and an impeccable team spirit, making players willing to run, fight, and sacrifice for the overall benefit of the team. Mourinho believes this is the main problem with the current squad. With this in mind, Rodri, currently playing for Manchester City and recently named the best player at the World Cup, has become a key target for Real Madrid.

Mourinho hopes to adopt a 4-2-3-1 or 5-3-2 system, based on high-pressing and a compact overall defensive structure.

With his outstanding performance at the World Cup, French star Mbappe will become the team's tactical core. Mourinho hopes to mold Mbappe into a super core with extremely high efficiency and significant influence, just as he did with Ronaldo when he coached him.

At the same time, based on Bellingham's performance at the World Cup, Mourinho also plans to readjust the Englishman's position, returning him to an attacking midfield role behind the striker.

Because one of his biggest tasks is to solve Real Madrid's biggest tactical challenge in attack—how to truly integrate the attacking trident of Mbappe, Vinicius, and Bellingham.

Unless Vinicius becomes the variable to be adjusted in the plan to sign Michael Olise.

Currently, Mourinho's three predecessors at Real Madrid—Ancelotti, Alonso, and Arbeloa—have all failed to solve this problem.

And this may be the key to testing whether Mourinho is still "special."

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