Real Madrid got absolutely hammered 2-1 by Atletico Madrid on Sunday, and they’re now staring up at a six-point hole in the league table, trailing arch-rivals FC Barcelona. This isn’t just a tough loss, it’s a “debacle” as the team heads into the international break in a seriously unfavorable spot. While the Merengues feel like the officiating was a mess, let’s be real, the performance itself wasn’t where it needed to be.
Mourinho Pulls the Trigger on a Week Off
So, what does a new manager do after a huge derby loss when things are looking grim? According to journalist Sergio Quirante on DAZN, Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has given his players a full week off after that crushing defeat at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. Here’s the kicker, though: this decision wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction to the loss. Mourinho decided on this extended break for his non-international players *before* they even kicked off against Atletico. Talk about a premonition, or maybe he just saw the writing on the wall with what was coming. The squad is already super thin with almost everyone heading out for international duty, leaving Mourinho with only seven first-team players for the next three weeks: Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, Antonio Rudiger, Raul Asencio, Alvaro Carreras, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Thiago Pitarch.
Injuries and a Brutal October Ahead
It’s not just international call-ups making the squad disappear. Federico Valverde is also sticking around, but his availability is a huge question mark after he picked up an injury in the derby. Plus, Rodrygo Goes, Ferland Mendy, and Eder Militao are all on the mend from their own injuries. This extended week off looks like a forced regrouping session. Barcelona, on the other hand, has been perfect, winning every match and taking that six-point lead at the top, while Atletico Madrid has snuck into second place. Mourinho’s squad, despite a positive start to the season before this weekend, clearly has a ton of work to do. And get this: October is not going to be a walk in the park. They’ve got Villarreal, Sevilla, and Barcelona coming up in La Liga, plus two brutal UEFA Champions League matches against AS Roma and RB Leipzig.
So, for now, it’s rest and recharge time. But when the players come back, it’s straight back to the drawing board because that October schedule is no joke. They need to figure things out, and fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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