Beijing time (CEST) August 30 — According to AS, Real Madrid manager Mourinho has entrusted captain Valverde with the significant responsibility of leading the team, hoping his leadership abilities reach the next level.

Mourinho has entrusted Valverde with the significant responsibility of leading the entire team. In the opening matchdays of La Liga, he has been the one receiving and relaying the coach's instructions on the pitch.

Valverde has become Mourinho's tactical extension on the field. In the first two league matches, whenever the Portuguese manager wanted to adjust tactics, the Uruguayan midfielder was his direct point of contact. In both matches, he moved toward the touchline to hear the coach's instructions before communicating them to his teammates. After shifting to a more central midfield role, the Uruguayan player has controlled nearly everything on the pitch: defense, attack, and team leadership. With one assist in two matches, he has become the most crucial balancing factor in a team with a star-studded attack.

Mourinho made his position clear in the post-match press conference after matchday two against Real Sociedad: "I don't want Fede playing on the wing or as a fullback; I want him to focus on playing centrally." And that's exactly what's happening. Real Madrid's number 8 is not only the central axis of the team's transition from defense to attack, but also bears the significant responsibility of stabilizing the defense following Tchouaméni's injury. His partnership in midfield with Bernardo Silva is considered the best option both for orchestrating offensive flow and for effectively limiting the opponent's attack.

The first two matches clearly show that the coach's instructions and tactical adjustments have a specific recipient. Whether after Espanyol's goal or Mbappé's second goal, Mourinho called on Fede to give him direct instructions. For a manager who places great emphasis on on-field tactical intervention, this role is crucial, and Valverde, wearing the captain's armband, is the chosen one. The Portuguese manager hopes his captain can shoulder this leadership responsibility—a responsibility that was questioned by fans last season.

This new role both on and off the pitch appears to have profoundly shaped the current Valverde. In the opening two matches, fans saw a more charismatic Valverde: he focused on defensive work in the defensive midfield position and also displayed his characteristic abundance of energy. Mourinho has always been skilled at bringing out the best in midfielders, and the Uruguayan is precisely the player who best adapts to his tactical style.

Valverde's ability to play across all midfield positions allows him to partner with Bernardo as a defensive pivot, or to play alongside Tchouaméni or Camavinga, gaining more freedom to advance and drop back. In the opening two matches, his average rating on Flashscore reached 8.0, and his pass success rate in the two La Liga matches was 93% and 97% respectively. Against Espanyol, he won 4 duels, made 3 tackles, and even struck a long-range shot that hit the post; against Real Sociedad, he displayed a more complete performance, providing 1 assist, 2 key passes, 1 shot on target, winning 3 duels, and his tackle success rate was 100%.

Since arriving in Madrid, through his complete dedication in every match, he has long been one of the players most beloved by fans. The Uruguayan is full of passion. Now, with Carvajal's departure, he has assumed the captain's armband and must prove he has learned everything from working with the squad's veterans and is ready to lead the new generation of players toward success.

This is precisely the work Valverde has been doing since Mourinho took charge. Indeed, as long as Valverde's role in the team remains crucial, Real Madrid will always be closer to those supreme championship trophies.

Valverde is the man Mourinho chose—his tactical extension on the pitch. After Real Madrid scored in the opening two league matchdays, the Uruguayan moved to the touchline to receive instructions from the coach. The Portuguese manager hopes that the new Real Madrid captain's leadership abilities will reach the next level.

Traducido por IA.

¡El sitio web de AF ya está disponible! Consulta noticias, comentarios, detalles de partidos y estadísticas en tu ordenador. Visita: www.allfootballapp.com