That 1-0 loss to Real Betis was a major gut punch for Real Madrid, no doubt. After three straight wins to kick off the season, it felt like a cold splash of water, a brutal reality check that shows they’re still lagging behind Barcelona in terms of real quality and consistency. You just know the coaching staff is already scrambling, poring over tape to figure out how to squeeze everything possible out of this squad.
Valverde’s Missing Passes
Look, the big takeaway after that Betis defeat, according to the inside scoop at Defensa Central, is all about Federico Valverde. The coaches want way more ball involvement from him. He’s been out there as the pivot, mainly because Aurelien Tchouameni is sidelined with an injury. But Valverde hasn’t made that leap, hasn’t brought the quality they need in that crucial role. Everyone knows his effort and commitment are through the roof, absolutely top-tier. But Mourinho and his crew, led by Sami Khedira, are seeing him spend too much time just hanging back, behind the opposition’s midfield line. What’s that mean? It means he’s not giving his teammates those vital passing lanes when they’re under pressure, and instead, they’re just booting aimless clearances instead of playing it out clean from the back. They’ve already had that chat with Valverde, which has to be tough. He’s still adapting to a position he’s never truly owned, making this whole challenge even harder for him.
Attackers Are Frozen
But let’s be real, it’s not all on Valverde. Khedira has been all over the video, pointing out this weird passivity from the attackers, especially Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe. They’re just not offering themselves when the ball tries to transition from midfield into attack. That lack of movement, that hesitation, it just makes everything harder for the guys deeper in the midfield trying to get the ball upfield. Meanwhile, Mourinho isn’t sweating Rodri heading to Barcelona. “I’m not missing Rodri. We have solutions, we have quality,” he said, totally backing his squad and his own ability to sharpen these players up.
So, what’s next? They’ve got a massive Champions League opener against Inter Milan looming, like, right around the corner. Mourinho and his staff need to iron out these wrinkles ASAP. You gotta wonder if they’ll fix it before that first whistle blows.
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.
Leave a Reply