Mourinho on the right track for Real

The arrival of Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid has started to reap good results after a series of good performances during their recent La Liga and Champions League games. Read Madrid showed good performance during their Champions League opening game against Ajax, and demolished Espanyol Barcelona 3-0 in the midweek league game. Los Blancos displayed good football during their European adventure at the Bernabeu with a convincing 2-0 win against Ajax. Their summer signings are starting to show some quality. Against Ajax, Madrid piled pressure in a very advanced position. By this I mean they did not allow Ajax to play their own ‘one to one and quick passes’. Ajax is very good at controlling the ball on an open pitch but Real showed strength in depth by counteracting this game style. When you look at Real Madrid players today, their physical and mental strength seems to be increasing by each game they play. With a new coach and several new players in the first team, there is surely going to be need for time for the players to start playing as a strong unit. Real’s striking line has started picking up form. The combination of Higuain, Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo has had many shots on goal, a sign of hard work. Real Madrid has key Spanish World Cup winners like Alonso, Juan Ramos and goalkeeper Inker Casilas. For years now, Casillas has been one of Madrid’s best players in every season. He has tremendous talent and perhaps the world’s best goalkeeper. Recently, Real appear to have managed to put together a solid rearguard. The arrival of Ricardo Carvalho from Chelsea this season has inspired Real’s defense. In his recent interview, Jose Mourinho revealed that he is more concerned about the way his team gets organized. The Portuguese tactician does not prefer to attack with five players and defend with five. He goes for ten players defending and attack with six so that they have another four for balance. In the last three games, Ronaldo and Higuain have looked good tactically. The whole team has had good dynamic offence and stayed well-balanced as well. Perhaps Mourinho will have to work hard to shape his strikers. Ronaldo needs to find his scoring form, and the sooner the better. Sometimes Cristiano can solve his scoring anxiety by one day not playing so well and scoring two or three goals the next match. This has happened to him on several occasions before. Under Mourinho, Real Madrid uses a system that involves a heavy balance of positions. They have the characteristics for a certain dynamic and it is adapted for such a style because Alonso and Sami Khedira form a false duo in the midfield. Some times Khedira moves out of position and Xabi falls back between the two centerbacks to develop plays. Madrid made a very smart to sign Mesut Ozil and Khedira. This is because Real Madrid lacked this kind of players. Ozil can probably ignite Fernando Redondo memories at Real Madrid. Redondo was a clever and winning dynamic midfielder and Ozil is already starting is perhaps prove this to Real faithful. Ends