Benito said on Cadena SER that Real Madrid has revealed "Mourinho 2.0" this summer. Analysts, people from the coach's inner circle, and journalists who have long followed Real Madrid all point out that the Portuguese coach is not the same Mourinho who shook up La Liga over a decade ago.

The Portuguese coach's typical approach is to apply constant pressure in the dressing room and tighten the reins to get the best out of his players. However, according to external opinions on the "new Mou," this hasn't been necessary so far. Apart from a tense moment in the first league match against Espanyol – where Spi had to make a crucial save in stoppage time – Real Madrid under Mourinho has almost overwhelmed their opponents.

In the last two matches, you could already see Mourinho correcting the defense, or rather, everything about how the team plays when not in possession. However, Álvaro Benito emphasized a different point in the "El Larguero" program.

"The positive thing is that he hasn't resorted to harsh measures yet," he said. "There seems to be a consensus. Everyone believes this aspect really needs to change," added the former player, now a regular commentator for Cadena SER.

Mourinho has made the team more active in pressing, putting opponents under pressure and immediately counter-pressing after losing the ball. "If the defense is better, you can win back more possession, and the offense will also improve, especially with players like Bellingham, Vini Jr., Diomande, and Mbappé on the team. The principle is simple. Last year, we had data showing that Real Madrid was the team with the most goals after losing the ball in the top five leagues. If you're the team scoring the most goals after turnovers, why wouldn't you work harder to win the ball back?" he said. This idea is gaining more acceptance in Real Madrid's dressing room and aligns perfectly with the characteristics of the players at Mourinho's disposal. However, Álvaro Benito also pointed out that despite the defensive changes, the season is still in its early stages. "Wait until more matches are played, until the Champions League begins, until you face stronger opponents... then we'll see.

But clearly, this is the right direction. It's the same for Real Madrid regardless of the opponent. Last year, I could see that Real Madrid was somewhat careless when not in possession, thinking that chances and goals would naturally come due to their talent. This year, I see everyone working with the idea of 'defending forward.' I think that's what Real Madrid should be doing," he said.

Übersetzt von KI.

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