Jose Mourinho didn’t walk into Real Madrid blind.
Two trophyless seasons, fractured relationships in the squad, and a well-documented spat between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni near the end of last season all landed on his desk before he would even settle into the job.
That flashpoint between Valverde and Tchouameni was not a minor footnote, as it became one of the defining storylines of Real Madrid’s campaign.
And according to Defensa Central, Mourinho has already used it as a starting point to sit both players down and lay out exactly how things are going to run under him.
Mourinho’s message: Professionalism over friendship
The Portuguese coach has not asked Valverde and Tchouameni to patch things up personally.
Valverde and Tchouameni had a massive feud towards the end of last season. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
In fact, as per the outlet, he does not need them going for dinner together or pretending to be best mates. What he does expect, according to the same report, is professionalism.
Both players have been told that whatever tension exists between them stays secondary to the club itself, and that Real Madrid’s interests come before any personal disagreement.
Valverde, in particular, has been given an extra reminder of his responsibilities.
This is because, as the club’s first-choice captain, and one of the few remaining players who shared a dressing room with Real Madrid legends, his conduct on and off the pitch is being watched closely by teammates who look to him for direction.
A smart move from someone who knows dressing rooms
Mourinho has made himself very clear to Valverde and Tchouameni. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)
This is classic Mourinho, and it is arguably one of his most underrated skills.
He has never just been a tactics man – he has always understood that a squad functions on trust and structure, not friendship.
By refusing to force reconciliation and instead demanding discipline, he is sidestepping the trap plenty of managers fall into: trying to manufacture harmony that doesn’t need to exist.
Real Madrid have not needed a group of best friends to win before. They have needed players who put the badge first and if Mourinho gets that right early, the football side of things might just take care of itself.