The Problems Mourinho Still Can't Fix at Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho's return to Real Madrid is proving harder than expected. A project designed to restore calm and success has already run into the same inconsistency that plagued the club last season. The derby defeat to Atletico has left the team in a tricky spot in the standings and reopened the debate over the Portuguese coach's approach.

• Seven league games in, Real Madrid sit fourth and already trail Barcelona by six points.
• A lack of control in midfield was a major issue in the derby at the Metropolitano.
• Vinicius, Mbappe and Bellingham have yet to click as an attacking unit.
• The international break gives Mourinho time to adjust before the Clasico.
• Carlos Espi has emerged as an attacking option after decisive goals off the bench.

The derby leaves Madrid with an uphill battle

Losing to Atletico always hurts. Doing so while looking tactically fragile is even worse. Mourinho complained about two first-half refereeing decisions, including Cristian Romero's studs-up tackle on Jude Bellingham and Lee Kang-in escaping punishment on Federico Valverde. Beyond the controversy, Madrid simply did not perform well enough.

The fixture list offers little comfort. La Liga looks slippery because Barcelona have won every game so far, scoring 31 goals with Raphinha in stunning form. Atletico and Betis, second and third, are also five points ahead of Los Blancos. Overturning a six-point gap to Barcelona at the top has only happened once, under Fabio Capello in 2006-07.

Midfield control, the wound from the Metropolitano

Against Atletico, Real Madrid lined up with Tchouameni and Valverde in a double pivot, with Bellingham ahead of them. It is a setup that offers energy and defensive protection, but one that struggled to move the ball with patience. Without a deep-lying organiser, the team spent too much time chasing the game.

Bernardo Silva came on for the final minutes to try to fix a match that already looked lost. He is an obvious option for games against compact defences. Arda Guler, further forward, provides another creative route. Mourinho does not have to abandon the double pivot, but he does need to give the side more command with the ball.

Vinicius, Mbappe and Bellingham: talent that is not adding up

Nobody doubts the individual quality of the squad's three stars. The challenge is making them complement each other instead of getting in each other's way. Against Atletico, Madrid created few clear openings. Mbappe was largely anonymous and starved of service. Vinicius was substituted shortly after Huijsen's red card, far from his most dangerous version.

Bellingham can break from deep, link midfield with attack and arrive in the box. But the machine still needs a working gear system. The Brazilian has to rediscover the one-on-one play that makes him so hard to stop, and the former PSG forward needs clear balls to attack, not the obligation to create everything himself.

Carlos Espi, the impact player asking for more

Amid the doubts, a young certainty has appeared. Carlos Espi has burst onto the scene with two stoppage-time goals, against Espanyol and Elche, that rescued results for Madrid. At 21, the forward has shown he can change tight games when he comes off the bench.

His profile as a more traditional focal point gives Mourinho a real alternative for the closing stages when the play gets stuck. Injuries and the workload of the starters could open more doors for him. So far, his impact deserves more opportunities.

Defensive balance: the other pending exam

Without the ball, Madrid suffered more than they should. Atletico exploited the space behind the midfield to break quickly and with menace. Huijsen's red card made everything harder, but the underlying problem was already visible.

Dumfries, Konaté, Huijsen and Cucurella lined up in front of Courtois. There is quality in that back four, but it does not yet move as a solid unit, especially when the full-backs push forward. Courtois made several big saves to keep his side alive. Too many. Relying on the Belgian's heroics is not a sustainable strategy.

A break to get back on track

The three-week international break arrives at an awkward moment for Real Madrid. Players are scattered around the globe and injuries are a risk, but it also gives Mourinho time to rebuild the team. Villarreal visit the Bernabeu on 10 October, and two weeks later the Clasico awaits in Barcelona. By then, the plan needs to be clear.

There is no irreversible crisis in October, but there are repeated warning signs. If the coach does not find quick answers in midfield, in the attacking balance and in the transition to defence, the season could become very long. The window to fix things is not endless.