Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid: What needs to improve after mixed start?

There is no shortage of individual attacking quality at Real Madrid. The problem is making it work consistently as a unit.

Against Atletico, Madrid struggled to create clear chances. Kylian Mbappe was largely ineffective and hardly touched the ball, while Vinicius Jr was substituted shortly after Dean Huijsen’s red card early in the second half.

Mourinho has three players, in Vinicius, Mbappe and Bellingham, capable of deciding matches on their own.

Bellingham’s ability to carry the ball forward, arrive late in the box and link midfield with attack is another important part of Madrid’s attacking threat, but Mourinho needs to ensure the trio complement rather than crowd each other.

Vinicius needs to rediscover the explosiveness and directness that makes him so difficult to defend, while Mbappe needs a greater supply of chances rather than being asked to create opportunities for himself.

There is another attacking option Mourinho could turn to more often.

Carlos Espi has already made an impression since joining the club, scoring the 90th-minute winner against Espanyol on his league debut before doing it again in stoppage time against Elche.

The 21-year-old has therefore shown he can make an impact when given game time.

With Madrid still working out how best to balance Vinicius, Mbappe and Bellingham, Espi offers Mourinho another option – particularly when Madrid need a focal point in the final stages of matches.

His early impact suggests he deserves more opportunities to show what he can do.