Of all the aspects of Real Madrid’s performances in recent years, it is the physical preparation and fitness department that they have clearly finished behind most opponents.
While rigorous training and fitness schedules have usually been the norm at the Spanish capital, matters took a turn for the worse in recent years – particularly over the past two seasons.
Weak managers, dressing room egos and administrative instability all contributed to the team’s decline in physical preparation, but Jose Mourinho has made it his goal to turn that situation around swiftly.
Back to ruthless sessions
As relayed by Guillermo Rai of The Athletic (h/t RM4Arab) in a recent report, sources close to the technical staff relay that the first weeks of Mourinho’s second stint at Real Madrid have been difficult to this point. There has been a lot of emphasis towards double training sessions.
Mourinho is restoring normalcy. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
The change from a lackadaisical, low-intensity session to two high-intensity sessions in a day has made it difficult for players to adjust and is demanding a lot of them physically.
In fact, the Spanish outlet also confirms that members of the technical staff explain that this very change is why players have looked slightly fatigued in pre-season games.
Mourinho has full control
It is not only the training department at Real Madrid, but in fact the entire project that has been confidently handed over to Mourinho’s hands at this point.
Every new signing arrives only after the Portuguese manager has given his green light, and he has the final say in any transfer decision. Similarly, every departure must be sanctioned by him.
Florentino Perez trusts Mourinho completely. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
He has also been handed full authority of planning training sessions, recovery sessions, setting rules and complete tactical freedom with respect to the on-field performance.
The entire Real Madrid project, thus, is under Mourinho’s control at this point in time and fitness will remain an area of focus throughout the season.
One can hope to see fewer injuries in the squad and more energy on the field as a result of the same, although it will take some time before tangible results can be appreciated. Only time will tell if his approach improves the physical output or demands too much off his players