“I am one of you”- Jose Mourinho
“I’m one of you. “And not just today, but since I arrived in 2010 and after I left in 2013, always with you. … To return to Real Madrid is to return home.” These were the words of Jose Mourinho to his fans in a video released by Real Madrid, during his unveiling at the Club on Tuesday.
Florentino Perez Welcomes Mourinho in Madrid…
In a surprising move, Real Madrid decided to have a closed-door function rather than a grand welcome for Jose Mourinho. The event took place at the club’s headquarters in Madrid, with president Florentino Pérez welcoming the coach.
… And Plays It Down
The club, in my opinion, wanted to play it down and not make a big splash of the moment. Real Madrid have had a tough last season, going trophyless and hence did not want Mourinho to be under pressure right from the get-go.
A New Manager And A Revamped Real Madrid Squad
The pains of the last season led to Real Madrid pressing for changes and, in no uncertain terms, having a fairly revamped squad with the inclusion of Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries and the teenager Yan Diomande. Though I am not very convinced by a few of the additions, Cucurella and Diomande are excellent buys for Real Madrid.
The Unshakeable Core Remains The Same
The core of the team, however, is well and truly intact. Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, Valverde and Brahim Diaz will be leading the squad and will be crucial for Jose Mourinho’s plans going forward this season.
Can Mourinho Stop Barcelona
The question, however, remains: can Mourinho turn the tide for Real Madrid and stop Barcelona from winning their third consecutive La Liga Title? The beleaguered side begins its campaign against Espanyol on Saturday night, playing away at the RCDE Stadium.