Overview
- Madrid’s attack has suffered because Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior repeatedly move into the same left-wing space, leaving the pair short of combined threat and contributing to low returns from Vinícius.
- Mourinho has shifted the team toward a compact 4-2-3-1 and is instructing the forwards to run into different channels on counters to preserve team shape and open space.
- The coach has publicly backed Vinícius and, according to club sources, has not seriously considered benching him while Mbappé remains a regular starter in strong scoring form.
- Real sit behind Barcelona in La Liga and the run-up to the first Clásico will be treated as the practical test of whether Mourinho’s tactical changes produce clearer roles and better results for the attack.
- Some former staff and anonymous insiders say the issue may need deeper structural fixes, including transfers, which would reshape selection pressure, squad planning, and the players’ careers if the tactical tweak fails.