AS: Mourinho assigns important role to Valverde, team will focus more on counterattacks and space exploitation

According to AS, since Uruguay's exit from the World Cup, Valverde's situation at both national team and club level has come under close scrutiny.

Uruguay's failure at the World Cup is indisputable. The national team's inability to progress beyond the group stage despite facing Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia speaks volumes about their poor performance. It was a complete disaster, but certain individuals came in for particular criticism, including Valverde. This World Cup has made his situation especially disappointing.

Ahead of the decisive match against Spain, Valverde was one of several players at odds with Bielsa. He was substituted off with more than half an hour remaining. Bielsa explained the change by saying, "I wanted to increase attacking power." After Uruguay's elimination, angry fans singled him out, saying: "Valverde, go back to Real Madrid and don't return, because you did nothing here, neither in qualifying nor at the World Cup."

For Valverde, this is not an isolated incident. Rather, it is the latest blow in a season he would like to forget. His statistics at Real Madrid are quite good—he has scored 9 goals and provided 13 assists—but managed just 1 goal across Uruguay's entire World Cup qualifying campaign. His performances in matches were also not particularly outstanding, and what has truly hurt him this season are events off the pitch, particularly his relationships with coaches.

His relationship with Bielsa ended on poor terms. At Real Madrid, he was also viewed as one of those opposed to Xabi Alonso. He publicly refused to play as a right-back, though he later denied this; and in Almaty, Kazakhstan, he had a controversial warm-up session that was interpreted as a challenge to Xabi Alonso.

After Xabi Alonso was sacked, Valverde bore considerable responsibility for the fallout. He adapted better and improved his performances after working with Arbeloa, but his image had been severely damaged. The subsequent incident with Tchouaméni further tarnished his reputation: he had a confrontation with the French midfielder on consecutive days, and on the second day, after being struck, he fell, suffered a head laceration, briefly lost consciousness, and was taken to the hospital.

Both players were fined 500,000 euros each and subsequently returned to the team's regular training and match schedule. But the rift remained.

Mourinho must address all of this. Real Madrid values Valverde highly, and regarding Tchouaméni, the club has suggested that if appropriate conditions arise, they would consider a transfer. Valverde is also set to become the first captain following Carvajal's departure.

Mourinho plans to give Valverde an important role at Real Madrid, a team that will place greater emphasis on counterattacks and exploiting space. The sole benefit of Uruguay's early exit is that Mourinho and Valverde can work together almost from the start of Real Madrid's pre-season preparation.