Beijing Time (CEST) August 30 — According to reports from AS, Real Madrid manager Mourinho has entrusted captain Valverde with the significant responsibility of leading the team, hoping to further enhance his leadership capabilities.

Mourinho has placed the weight of the entire team on Valverde's shoulders. In Real Madrid's opening La Liga matches, it was Valverde who received and relayed the manager's instructions on the pitch.

Valverde has become Mourinho's tactical extension on the field. In the team's first two league matches, whenever the Portuguese manager needed to adjust tactics, the Uruguayan midfielder was his primary point of contact. In both matches, he would walk to the bench to receive instructions from the manager before communicating them to his teammates. After repositioning to play more centrally, the Uruguayan has virtually orchestrated everything on the pitch: defense, attack, and team leadership. With one assist across two matches, he has become the crucial fulcrum for this team with a dream attacking line.

Mourinho made his intentions clear at the press conference ahead of the second match against Real Sociedad: "I don't want Fede to play on the wing or as a fullback; I want him to concentrate on playing in midfield." This has indeed been the case. Real Madrid's number 8 is not only the primary link in the team's defensive-to-attacking transition, but following Tchouaméni's injury, he has also taken on the crucial task of defensive stability. His midfield partnership with Bernardo Silva is regarded as the ideal combination for orchestrating attacking fluidity while effectively restricting opposing attacks.

The opening two matches have clearly shown that the manager's tactical instructions and adjustments had a specific recipient. Whether after Espanyol's goal or after Mbappé scored the second goal, Mourinho called over Fede to give him instructions. For a manager who places such emphasis on tactical intervention, this role is vital, 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 supporters last season.

This new role, both on and off the pitch, appears to have profoundly shaped the current Valverde. In the opening two matches, people have witnessed a more charismatic Valverde: he concentrated on defense in the holding midfielder position while displaying his characteristic abundance of energy. Mourinho has always excelled at bringing out the best in midfielders, and the Uruguayan is precisely the player who fits his tactical style best.

Valverde's ability to play across all midfield positions allows him to function as a defensive pivot alongside Bernardo, or play alongside Tchouaméni or Camavinga, gaining more freedom for attacking runs and defensive cover. In the first two matches, his average Flashscore rating was an impressive 8.0, and his pass success rates in the two La Liga matches reached 93% and 97%, respectively. Furthermore, in the match against Espanyol, he won 4 duels, made 3 tackles, and even struck a long-range shot that hit the crossbar; against Real Sociedad, he displayed a more complete performance, providing 1 assist, 2 key passes, 1 shot on goal, winning 3 duels, and boasting a perfect 100% tackle success rate.

Since arriving in Madrid, through dedicating his full effort in every match, he has long been one of the players most beloved by supporters. The Uruguayan is full of passion. Now, with Carvajal's departure, he has taken on the captain's armband and must prove that he has absorbed everything he learned while working alongside veteran leaders in the dressing room, leading the new generation of players toward success.

Since Mourinho took over, this is exactly the work Valverde has been doing. In fact, as long as Valverde plays a crucial role in the team, Real Madrid will always be closer to those supreme championship trophies.

Valverde is the man Mourinho has chosen, his tactical extension on the pitch. In the team's opening league matches, the Uruguayan midfielder would walk to the bench to receive instructions from his manager. The Portuguese manager hopes that his new captain's leadership abilities will continue to strengthen.

Traduzido por IA.

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